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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Columbia Residence

Property owners must safeguard against a variety of risks like burglary, fire, and flooding. But what about something that you can’t see or smell? Carbon monoxide presents a unique challenge because you may never be aware that it’s there. Nevertheless, implementing CO detectors can effectively safeguard your loved ones and property. Learn more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Columbia property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer because of its lack of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas produced by incomplete fuel combustion. Any fuel-burning appliance like a furnace or fireplace can generate carbon monoxide. Even though you typically won’t have a problem, complications can arise when appliances are not routinely serviced or properly vented. These missteps could result in a proliferation of this potentially deadly gas in your residence. Generators and heaters of various types are the most consistent causes for CO poisoning.

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

Tips For Where To Place Columbia Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your interior, purchase one today. If possible, you ought to use one on every floor of your home, and that includes basements. Explore these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Columbia:

  • Place them on every level, particularly in places where you utilize fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas dryers.
  • You should always use one no more than 10 feet away from bedrooms. If you only install one carbon monoxide detector, this is where to put it.
  • Place them at least 10 to 20 feet from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid installing them immediately next to or above fuel-consuming appliances, as a bit of carbon monoxide could be emitted when they kick on and prompt a false alarm.
  • Attach them to walls approximately five feet off the floor so they will test air where inhabitants are breathing it.
  • Avoid putting them in dead-air places and near doors or windows.
  • Place one in spaces above garages.

Check your CO detectors routinely and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. You will usually need to replace them every five to six years. You should also make certain any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in optimal working condition and have adequate ventilation.