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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Salem House

Homeowners must defend against a variety of risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about a danger that you aren’t able to see or smell? Carbon monoxide poses unique challenges as you might never be aware that it’s there. Nevertheless, using CO detectors can effectively shield you and your household. Explore more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Salem property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer due to its absence of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas caused by incomplete fuel combustion. Any fuel-utilizing appliance like an oven or fireplace can create carbon monoxide. Even though you typically won’t have a problem, difficulties can present when an appliance is not routinely inspected or adequately vented. These missteps could cause an accumulation of this dangerous gas in your interior. Heating appliances and generators are the most consistent causes for CO poisoning.

When subjected to lower levels of CO, you might suffer from fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to high amounts can cause cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and death.

Suggestions For Where To Place Salem Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t use at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home, purchase one today. Ideally, you ought to use one on every level of your home, including basements. Review these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Salem:

  • Put them on every floor, especially in places where you utilize fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces, gas dryers, fireplaces, and water heaters.
  • You ought to always use one no more than 10 feet away from sleeping areas. If you only install one CO detector, this is where it should go.
  • Place them approximately 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Avoid affixing them directly above or next to fuel-burning appliances, as a small amount of carbon monoxide could be discharged when they kick on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Attach them to walls about five feet above the ground so they will sample air where inhabitants are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them beside windows or doors and in dead-air zones.
  • Put one in areas above attached garages.

Inspect your CO detectors routinely and maintain them according to manufacturer instructions. You will generally have to replace units every five to six years. You should also make sure any fuel-burning appliances are in in good working condition and appropriately vented.