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Carbon monoxide detector attached to wall of home
January 08, 2024

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Erie Property

Residents must defend against various risks like burglary, flooding, and fire. But what about a risk that you are unable to smell or see? Carbon monoxide creates unique challenges because you might never realize it’s there. Despite that, implementing CO detectors can easily shield your loved ones and property. Explore more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Erie property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Known as the silent killer as of a result of its lack of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas produced by an incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that utilizes fuels like a fireplace or furnace can create carbon monoxide. While you normally won’t have a problem, issues can arise when equipment is not regularly serviced or adequately vented. These mistakes can lead to an accumulation of the potentially lethal gas in your interior. Generators and heaters of various types are commonly culpable for CO poisoning.

When in contact with low concentrations of CO, you may notice fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Extended exposure to higher levels could result in cardiorespiratory arrest, and even death.

Suggestions For Where To Place Erie Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, get one now. Ideally, you ought to install one on each floor of your home, including basements. Here are some tips on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Erie:

  • Put them on each floor, specifically in areas where you use fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas dryers.
  • Always have one no more than 10 feet away from bedroom areas. If you only install one CO detector, this is the place for it.
  • install them at least 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Do not position them immediately next to or above fuel-burning appliances, as a little carbon monoxide may be released when they turn on and set off a false alarm.
  • Secure them to walls about five feet above the ground so they will sample air where inhabitants are breathing it.
  • Avoid putting them beside windows or doors and in dead-air zones.
  • Put one in areas above attached garages.

Test your CO detectors often and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. You will typically have to replace them in six years or less. You should also ensure any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in optimal working condition and appropriately vented.