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Show h tfUj.lHtit 7. 2100, 1HL DAILY HI UMJt, HiifM ffw I'i Furnace maintenance, CO detectors good precautions Dear Jim: I read about an entire family killed by carbon monoxide poisoning while they slept. Our new efficient house is pretty airtight and has gas heat, How can I check for CO poisoning? What are the symptoms? AnnD. Dear Ann: Carbon monoxide (CO) gas is truly the silent killer colorless, odorless and tasteless. Since its initial symptoms are similar to a cold or the flu (headache, nausea, tiredness), it may go undetected until it is too late. Always discuss any specific symptoms you have with your doctor. Although an efficient, airtight house may allow CO levels to build up from a malfunctioning furnace, water heater, stove, etc., there are many CO deaths in older, less efficient houses too. Any house with gas, oil, d propane, wood or appliances presents a potential hazard. The best protection for your family is a two-ste- p approach. First, install CO gas detectorsalarms in your home. Second, make sure to have all your heatingcombustion appliances regularly maintained by professionals. Most CO alarms are designed to monitor a single room or area. Obvious loca- coal-fire- James Dulley tions would be in bedrooms, kitchen and near combustion appliances. These are small battery or plug-i- n devices that often cost about $50. When a danger level is reached, a piercing alarm sounds and a light comes on. h makes a CO alarm that is built into a standard bedroom clock radio. When the CO alarm goes off, it uses the radio speaker to give verbal instructions on what to do. The sensors inside the Aim Safe-A- ir unit are so accurate, that the company will pay a responding fire department $50 if there is a false alarm. CO poisoning may sneak up on a family with elevated, but below alarm, levels for extended periods of time. Some CO alarms use a two-stadesign. A light and tone will come on at a prede S-T- et ge termined lower CO level to alert you to a possible problem. Some also have a digital reudout of the CO level. Some of the Kidde CO alarms have built-i- n memory that keep track of the peak CO levels reached and Aim models record the times of the day. This is helpful for professionals to determine the source and correct the problem. In addition to small CO alarms in key areas of your house, installing a Watchdog central air cleaner will monitor the furnace return air from your entire house. A battery-operate- d alarm Is built into the corner of the air cleaner. It is a standard h air cleaner to fit all furnace slots. If you have a security system in your home, consider a CO alarm that can be connected directly to it. Quantum makes both bate tery and hardwired models for this. To just do a spot CO check on a limited budget, they also offer Inexpensive CO testing tablets. Change them as recommended. Write for (or Instantly download www.dulley.com) Update Bulletin No. 838 buyer's guide of CO detectoralarms, air cleaners and tablets, stages, warranties one-inc- CO Is for have master-bed- -' room furniture that is physically sound, but the look is tacky. My mother called the Q. We wood "blond." I believe It is a veneer. Can you give us tips on how to update the look of this furniture? Not too many books give advice on this. Andrea Edmundson, Tucson, Ariz. A. You mentioned that your furniture could be a veneer and that you would like to update the look. Perhaps you might enjoy the look of a light, warm 1 brown stain, In order to achieve this, you would have to remove the existing finish. You could do this with a conventional paint remover even if the wood is a veneer, as you would only be removing a varnish and not an existing color or stain. The varnish typically would easily . come off in one or two light applications of paint remover. You must be sure to remove all of the finish so that a wood stain will penetrate evenly when applied. Be sure to use a scraper that does not have sharp edges. If you accidentally gouge the veneer, sanding could be difficult because the top veneer layer could be very thin. You might even try a brass stripping brush, or a soft stripping pad. After the varnish is removed, wipe all surfaces thoroughly with a lacquer thinner to neutralize any residue. Sand lightly in the direction of the wood grain until all surfaces are smooth. I recommend sandpaper. Remove dust and apply one coat of wood stain. Allow to dry overnight. Apply at least two coats of satin polyurethane three coats would be even better. 220-gr- tri-mit- added safety while you ! sleep Mount atarm on wall or place on table CO detectoralarm Natural static charge on air cleaner stops most allergens and dust rnM CO level on digital readout Is mounted In corner of furnace air cleaner loud alarm resonates throughout house -- two-stag- Dear Paul: Newer refrigerators should not be damaged if they are laid flat for transportation. Many are shipped this way to the retailer. Be careful not on the back. and features. Please include SASE. $3 and a business-siz- e Fridge should be OK Dear Jim: I have a one-year-o- high efficiency refrigerator which I plan to move to a new apartment, I heard that it will be damaged or its efficiency reduced if it in laid flat. 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