Check your home for carbon monoxide.

Why?

Here is what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says about carbon monoxide:

&8220;Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.&8221;

Death. That&8217;s fairly clear reason to check for carbon monoxide, would you say?

A check with a local hardware store found that CO detectors range from $18 to $55, depending on the sensitivity and technology that comes with the detectors. That&8217;s not much to pay for protecting the health of you and your family.

But if it is, the Albert Lea Public Library offers CO detectors for cardholders to check out. You can take one home for a week to see if it finds any carbon monoxide in your home.

Carbon monoxide results from incomplete combustion and burns with a violet flame, the EPA says. It says sources usually are leaking furnaces and chimneys; back-drafting furnaces, fireplaces or other heaters; unvented kerosene and gas spaces heaters; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline-powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke.

How do you fix it if you detect it? Call a heating and furnace store and have an expert check for proper combustion in your furnace or stove. If that&8217;s not it, you can check the flue on your fireplace to see if it fits properly, too. Is there an unseen crack or hole between the attached garage and your home?

Take care of your home and your home will take care of you. We&8217;ll say it again: Check your home for carbon monoxide.