When daylight-saving time begins and ends, fire departments across the country encourage people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors; but that’s not the only around-the-house home maintenance task you should do. Home inspectors recommend people should get into the habit of testing their home’s carbon monoxide detector too. If you don’t have one, you should strongly consider purchasing one.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 400 lives and sends another 20,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. Often, the colorless, odorless toxic gas affected the victims while they were sleeping and they had no idea there was a problem in their home.

Carbon monoxide is emitted from gas-burning appliances, wood-burning fireplaces and motor vehicles. At lower levels of exposure, the gas causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. High level exposure can lead to death.

In addition to having a working carbon monoxide detector, there are other steps homeowners can take to prevent carbon monoxide build-up from being a problem:

* Never keep a car running in the garage. Even if the doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to prevent carbon monoxide build-up.

* Never use your oven or range to heat your home.

* Hire a qualified professional to check all of your home’s fuel burning appliances during routine home maintenance.

* When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. If any home repairs are needed, have them completed prior to moving in.

For more tips on keeping your family safe and other home improvement advice, log on to Home Safety Council’s website.