Do You Have A CO Detector? Is It Properly Placed?

Anyone who uses combustible-fuel burning appliances in a home should have a CO detectorto alert them of the buildup of hazardous carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, invisible gas that replaces oxygen in the bloodstream. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that each level of a home that burns any kind of fuel have a detector to prevent unnecessary poisoning.

Placing CO detectors is critical to using them successfully to keep your family safe. The detectors need to be at least 15 feet away from a gas stove, furnace or hot water heater. When these appliances light, they emit small amounts of CO that can trigger the detector. If your home has an attached garage, place a monitor at least 15 feet away from the connecting door to the home. When parking or starting your vehicle, CO can enter your home. The temptation to disable detectors that create false alarms can be overwhelming, since they emit loud, high-pitched sounds that are annoying.

Placing the detectors at an adult’s eye level makes them easy to access. The battery-operated units need to be checked monthly for sufficient power, and having them within reach makes this task easy. Hard-wired units that show intermittent levels of CO should also be placed at eye level so that you can monitor the performance of your fuel-burning appliances. Rising levels of CO can indicate mechanical problems with water heaters and furnaces.

Each sleeping area of a home needs at least one CO detector, especially in split-bedroom floorplans where the children sleep a distance from the master bedroom. If the bedrooms are clustered, placing the detector closest to the master suite alerts the adults when the alarm goes off. Bathrooms are often close to bedrooms and the alarms should be place 15 feet away from these humid environments.

Blanton’s Heating & AC can help you evaluate where to place your CO detectors, as well as checking your combustible appliances for efficiency and safety. Please contact us to learn more. We provide HVAC services for the Fayetteville area.