Carbon dioxide is a well known gas in both industrial and commercial applications, but its presence in residential indoor air environments, poses a lesser known but fatal threat. Especially when it comes to a home built on a reclaimed mining land.
Here is the story of Gary Walker, a homeowner in Warrick County, Indiana who faced an invisible danger after building his house on land once used for coal mining. His experience shines significant but critical reality of the dangers of carbon dioxide in indoor air environments, particularly those with a history of underground mining.
Mysterious Health Issues and a Lethal Environment
Gary and his wife had been experiencing alarming health symptoms from breathlessness, dizziness, and disorientation. These symptoms came especially after heavy rains and significant atmospheric pressure drops. On a particular night, after struggling to breathe and barely making it outside to check his vitals, Gary noticed an immediate improvement upon leaving the house.
When his wife followed, she too experienced strange, but rapid relief.
Initially suspecting carbon monoxide poisoning, an all too common but serious potential risk, the couple installed a CO detector, which showed no elevated readings.
However, their symptoms persisted. After multiple visits from HVAC specialists, the true culprit was identified - dangerously high levels of carbon dioxide seeping from a wet shale beneath their home, significantly trapping carbon dioxide inside and displacing oxygen.
How CO2 Accumulates in Homes on Reclaimed Mines
The initial problem for Gary, stemmed from pressure changes in the soil. When the ground became saturated with water, it formed a barrier which prevented the CO2 from naturally diffusing. Instead, pressure from beneath pushed the gas into the home at alarming rates. During these events, CO2 levels in Gary’s home exceeded 10,000ppm, a concentration known to cause confusion, unconsciousness, and even fatality.
Even in drier conditions, levels consistently exceeded 5,000ppm, which for those unaware, was far above OSHA and NIOSH’s recommended exposure limits for indoor environments. Plus, carbon dioxide is dense and being heavier than air, rapidly displaces oxygen, which can create a suffocating environment.
The Severe Impact of CO2 Exposure
While Gary and his family identified the issue in time, others in the community were not as fortunate - which shows how critical it is to understand indoor air quality in your home.
In Gary's case, one local HVAC technician responded to a nearby home where the heating system had repeatedly failed. Upon arrival, he found the homeowner unconscious in the basement. Yet, by the time emergency crews arrived the neighbor was pronounced dead the next day, she was revived but brain not functioning due to undetected CO2 accumulation.
After this unfortunate incident, community awareness soon followed.
A public meeting in the neighborhood drew a rather large attendance and many of whom had been experiencing unexplained health symptoms - similar to Gary's. Even the local fire chief admitted his team had responded to numerous calls within the community and neighborhood, without understanding the true root cause.
CO2 Indoor Air Quality Monitors Prevented Tragedy
Recognizing the dangers, Gary took action and installed a CO2 Monitor.
When he started researching, he found CO2Meter as a reputable source with many positive reviews and purchased a carbon dioxide detector that he knew could provide real-time readings, allowing Gary to track CO2 levels before they reached elevated concentrations.
The CO2Meter CM-505 that Gary purchased was a highly reliable and portable CO2 solution that is designed for continuous monitoring of indoor air quality environments.
With its precise NDIR gas sensing technology, it also provided accurate real-time CO2 readings, to ensure continual early detection of hazardous gas levels. The device was the perfect tool to alert Gary of any unsafe conditions as they occur. Specifically, aiding in safeguarding homes and protecting residents from CO2 buildup.
The CM-505 ended up being a pivotal solution for Gary in identifying the problem, validating mitigation efforts, and ensuring long-term safety.
The specific CO2 detector data collected also highlighted a broader response:
- One day when Gary and family were sitting around the home CO2 levels were around 2500ppm, he placed the detector over the drain tile and the meter was off scale immediately and oxygen near zero. The data log showed 18,0000 at that moment before opening up the home.
- Prior to having the CM-505 Gary estimated that the CO2 levels were between 40,000 and 80,000 based on their symptoms.
- Emergency responders in the mining regions now have further education onCO2 detectors to assess indoor air quality during calls.
- HVAC professionals in the area are also aware of further CO2 risks and can be equipped with handheld detectors to detect potential hazards.
- Public awareness campaigns became more widespread to ensure residents in these mining regions understood the severity of CO2 exposure and could mitigate potential dangers.
Raising CO2 Safety Awareness and Saving Lives
Gary Walker’s story is a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that carbon dioxide can pose not only in homes built on reclaimed mines, but in any confined residential or commercial environment. Without proper indoor air quality monitoring, these spaces can turn into silent death traps.
While poor indoor air quality can lead to a range of health issues, from headaches and fatigue to more severe conditions such as respiratory diseases - it's critical to know what's in the air around you. Understanding what CO2 limits are standard vs. elevated is critical in ensuring indoor spaces maintain proper ventilation and reduce potential hazards from occurring.
Without an indoor air quality monitor like the CM-505, Gary might not have been able to identify the threat, implement proper safeguards, or prevent severe harm. While his situation may have heightened concerns due the reclaimed coal mine, everyday activities such as cooking and heating can also contribute to indoor CO2 buildup.
Overall, for any resident, business owner, or student it's important to continue to understand the risks involved with poorly ventilated indoor spaces and the importance of indoor air quality and CO2 monitoring.
By being proactive, homeowners and individuals can enhance ventilation, reduce risks and create an overall healthier living environment for themselves or their families.
For more information on indoor air quality resources or carbon dioxide solutions for your space, contact a CO2Meter expert today.
