Use An Electric Concrete Saw In Your Basement To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Posted on: 26 June 2015
There are two different types of concrete saws: gas and electric. Gas models are usually more powerful than their electric counterparts, and they don't require charging. When cutting concrete in a basement, though, you should use an electric concrete saw to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Gas-Powered Concrete Saws Produce Carbon Monoxide
Like all combustion engines, concrete saws that run on gasoline produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that affects the heart and central nervous system when it enters the bloodstream. According to the CDC, when carbon monoxide levels in blood reach 35 percent, manual dexterity is affected -- an effect that you can ill-afford when working with power tools.
Carbon Monoxide Builds Up in Basements
When working in a well-ventilated area, you're at little, if any, risk of getting carbon monoxide poisoning while sawing concrete. Although the gas is produced, it promptly dissipates into the surrounding air. In a poorly ventilated basement, however, your risk increases.
Carbon monoxide can be moved out of some poorly ventilated areas with fans. For example, if you needed to saw a concrete garage floor, you could open the garage's doors and set up fans to circulate air. You might want to plug in a carbon monoxide detector to ensure that levels of the gas didn't reach dangerous concentrations, but you're unlikely to suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning if fans are directing air out of open doorways.
Fans won't, however, be able to prevent carbon monoxide from building up in a basement for two reasons. First, basement windows are usually smaller than garage doors. Therefore, it'll be difficult to circulate air through your basement.
Second, basement windows are usually at the top of the basement. Carbon monoxide, however, sinks, because it's a heavier molecule than those that are typically found in air. As Quasius Equipment, Inc. explains, even if you have several fans going, they won't be able to lift the carbon monoxide molecules up to the windows and blow them out of the basement. Instead, the carbon monoxide that's building up will just sit near the bottom of the basement while fresh air is directed out the windows.
Electric Concrete Saws Are Safe to Use in Basements
To avoid getting carbon monoxide poisoning when sawing concrete in a basement, use an electric saw. The project might take a little longer, because the saw won't be as powerful as a gas-powered model, and it might require recharging. An electric concrete saw, however, won't produce carbon monoxide. You'll be able to work safely without worrying about carbon monoxide poisoning.
To learn more, contact a concrete sawing company like Concrete Sawing Co Inc.
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