You need to install carbon monoxide detectors inside your home to protect you from the harmful gas.
Dryer vents, water heaters, furnaces, fireplaces, lawnmowers, and space heaters are just a few appliances that are found in many houses across the country. These and other fuel-burning, gas-powered appliances produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless, and impossible for humans to detect. It can be a killer. This is why you need to install carbon monoxide detectors inside your home. But if not correctly placed, carbon monoxide detectors won’t be effective. Read on to learn about how carbon monoxide detectors work, why they are essential, and the very best locations to install them to ensure your family’s safety.
What Exactly is a Carbon Monoxide Detector?
A carbon monoxide detector sounds an alarm when it detects dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the air. These detectors are the quickest method to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, as most will sound the alarm before dangerous levels develop. There are three types of sensors:
- Electrochemical Sensors, which use an electrode-carrying chemical solution that reacts to changes in electrical currents resulting from contact with carbon monoxide.
- Biomimetic Sensors that use a gel that changes color upon absorbing any carbon monoxide.
- Metal Oxide Semiconductors that use silica chip circuitry to detect the presence of carbon monoxide.
Where Should I Install the Carbon Monoxide Detector?
Carbon monoxide detectors are most useful when installed:
- On each level of the house
- Near each bedroom or sleeping spot
- Near doors that lead to attached garages
Everyone in your home should be able to hear the alarm when it sounds. Since carbon monoxide is a bit lighter than air and distributes evenly throughout a space, carbon monoxide detectors are most effective when placed at least five feet high on a wall or a couple of feet beneath the ceiling. To ensure that your carbon monoxide detectors avoid nuisance false alarms, make sure that you place them at least fifteen feet away from all windows, vents, fans, and humid rooms. These could disrupt the accurate reading of carbon monoxide levels. Here is the bottom line: Always install carbon monoxide detectors in strict accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are located in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.