Have you installed carbon monoxide detectors?
You keep your family safe with smoke detectors, but do you also have carbon monoxide detectors in your home? Like smoke detectors Co2 detectors are a must for peace of mind and keeping your family safe.
What is Carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas composed of carbon and oxygen (CO). It is formed by incomplete combustion and may be produced in your home from gas appliances—stoves, furnaces, water heaters, etc. Fireplaces and cars also produce carbon monoxide.
Carbon Monoxide is dangerous in part because it’s impossible to detect without equipment. We can’t smell, taste or see CO, and exposure is not even especially irritating. Carbon monoxide can make you very ill or even kill you because it binds with blood and prevents blood from delivering needed oxygen throughout your body.
The CDC estimates over 50,000 people are hospitalized and more than 400 die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Where Should CO Detectors Be Placed?
At a minimum, you’ll want to install at least one carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home.
Install CO detectors in or near each room where people will be sleeping, and be sure they are loud enough to wake even the deep sleepers in the house.
Because car exhaust contains carbon monoxide, you should install a carbon monoxide detector in or near your garage as well. For attached garages, mount one near the door between the garage and the rest of the house.
Detectors should be mounted 5 feet off the ground.
Never place carbon monoxide detectors:
- In humid places, like bathrooms
- Behind curtains, blinds or doors (they may be less effective)
- In reach of small children
- In direct sunlight
- Near windows (or other drafty places)
- Near fireplaces or stoves
What do they cost?
Simple carbon monoxide detectors are very affordable. You can find them on Amazon or at home improvement stores between $25 and $40. Combination smoke and CO detectors can be found in the same price range.
You can find more advanced smart detectors as well in the $100-200 range, and they may be included as part of your smart home security system.
Carbon monoxide Detector Installation
Be sure you purchase UL rated detectors, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Battery operated CO detectors can easily be installed by anyone.
Hardwired carbon monoxide detectors may be a better option, because they are connected to each other, much like hard wired smoke detectors. This is important simply because if one detector senses CO, all of the hardwired detectors will sound an alarm, so everyone in the house will be alerted. While also fairly simple to install, if you don’t feel comfortable installing hardwired smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, call a residential electrician for help.
Check to Batteries
Lastly, don’t forget to check the batteries. Like hard wired smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors have a battery backup. Test the batteries twice per year to be sure the batteries are still good. CO detectors can save lives, but they only work if they have power.
If you need help installing hardwired carbon monoxide detectors in your home, contact Las Vegas Electricians Fowler Electric today. You can also set up an appointment below.
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