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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your College Station House

Property owners must safeguard against various risks like fire, burglary, and flooding. But what about something that you can’t smell or see? Carbon monoxide is different from other risks as you may never know it’s there. Despite that, implementing CO detectors can simply safeguard your loved ones and property. Find out more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your College Station home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer because of its absence of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas formed by an incomplete combustion of fuels. Any fuel-consuming appliance like a furnace or fireplace may create carbon monoxide. Even though you usually won’t have any trouble, difficulties can arise when an appliance is not routinely inspected or appropriately vented. These missteps can cause a build-up of the potentially lethal gas in your home. Generators and heating appliances are the most consistent reasons for CO poisoning.

When subjected to low concentrations of CO, you may notice headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Prolonged exposure to higher concentrations may lead to cardiopulmonary arrest, and even death.

Tips For Where To Place College Station Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your residence, purchase one today. If possible, you ought to use one on each floor of your home, and that includes basements. Here are some recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in College Station:

  • Place them on every level, particularly where you have fuel-burning appliances, including water heaters, furnaces, gas dryers, and fireplaces.
  • You ought to always install one within 10 feet of sleeping areas. If you only have one carbon monoxide detector, this is where it should go.
  • Place them at least 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid placing them directly above or next to fuel-consuming appliances, as a non-threatening amount of carbon monoxide may be released when they turn on and prompt a false alarm.
  • Secure them to walls about five feet off the floor so they will measure air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid putting them in dead-air areas and next to windows or doors.
  • Install one in areas above attached garages.

Inspect your CO detectors often and maintain them per manufacturer recommendations. You will typically need to replace them in six years or less. You should also make certain any fuel-consuming appliances are in in proper working order and appropriately vented.