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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Columbia House

Residents must protect against numerous risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about a danger that can’t be discerned by human senses? Carbon monoxide is different from other threats because you may never know it’s there. Despite that, implementing CO detectors can simply protect your loved ones and property. Find out more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Columbia home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer due to its absence of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a common gas formed by incomplete fuel combustion. Any appliance that uses fuels like an oven or fireplace can create carbon monoxide. Even though you normally won’t have a problem, difficulties can present when equipment is not routinely serviced or adequately vented. These missteps could lead to a proliferation of this potentially deadly gas in your home. Generators and heating appliances are the most consistent culprits for CO poisoning.

When exposed to minute amounts of CO, you could suffer from dizziness, headaches, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to elevated amounts could cause cardiorespiratory failure, and potentially death.

Recommendations On Where To Place Columbia Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector, purchase one today. If possible, you ought to use one on each floor, including basements. Review these suggestions on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Columbia:

  • Install them on every level, particularly in areas where you utilize fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas dryers.
  • You ought to always use one no more than 10 feet away from bedrooms. If you only install one CO detector, this is the place for it.
  • Position them approximately 10 to 20 feet from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid affixing them immediately above or beside fuel-consuming appliances, as a bit of carbon monoxide could be discharged when they kick on and prompt a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls about five feet above the floor so they will test air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them beside doors or windows and in dead-air places.
  • Install one in areas above attached garages.

Check your CO detectors routinely and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. 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 shape and have appropriate ventilation.