When it comes to your family’s safety, a carbon monoxide detector should be at the top of your list. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless, and potentially lethal gas, that’s found in combustion fumes produced by fuel-burning appliances such as a furnace or gas stove. Knowing where to place carbon monoxide detectors is important and will give your family the best protection against CO poisoning and the greatest chance of survival.
Placement Do’s
- For maximum protection, install a CO detector on every level of your home, but if you’re only going to install one, do so near the sleeping area to alert every member of your family.
- Carbon monoxide weighs about the same as air, though it’s often part of warmer air emitted by combustion appliances and may rise, making it a good idea to place the detector at eye level or higher.
- Read the installation manual that comes with your detector, as recommendations can vary according to the manufacturer and may be specific to that particular model.
- Look for a model with a life span of five years or more, with a built in signal to let you know when it’s time for replacement.
- Opt for a digital detector, with a display showing you the concentration of CO in the air, in parts per million. This will alert you to CO levels that may fall below the alarm threshold, yet still pose a health threat with long term exposure.
- Consider purchasing a plug in model with a battery backup rather than a battery-only detector, to cut down on maintenance and added expense.
CO Detector Placement Don’ts
- When deciding where to place carbon monoxide detectors, choose a location away from fuel-burning appliances, which may give off a small degree of CO upon start up, triggering false alarms.
- Avoid placing detectors near cooking or heating appliances, as well as areas of excessive humidity, such as a laundry area or bathroom.
For more information or assistance with where to place carbon monoxide detectors, give us a call at Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating. We proudly serve homeowners in Allen, Frisco and McKinney.
