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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Lancaster Residence

Homeowners must protect against a variety of risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about a risk that can’t be discerned by human senses? Carbon monoxide creates a unique challenge as you might never realize it’s there. Nevertheless, using CO detectors can effectively protect you and your household. Find out more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Lancaster residence.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer due to its absence of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that utilizes fuels like a fireplace or furnace may generate carbon monoxide. While you usually won’t have a problem, difficulties can present when an appliance is not regularly inspected or adequately vented. These missteps can cause an accumulation of this potentially deadly gas in your residence. Generators and heating appliances are commonly to blame for CO poisoning.

When subjected to lower concentrations of CO, you might notice headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to elevated amounts can lead to cardiopulmonary arrest, and even death.

Tips On Where To Place Lancaster Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home is without a carbon monoxide detector, get one today. If possible, you should install one on each floor of your home, and that includes basements. Explore these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Lancaster:

  • Put them on every floor, especially in places where you use fuel-burning appliances, including fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, and gas dryers.
  • You ought to always use one no more than 10 feet away from sleeping areas. If you only install one carbon monoxide detector, this is where it should go.
  • install them at least 10 to 20 feet from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Avoid placing them directly next to or above fuel-utilizing appliances, as a small degree of carbon monoxide could be discharged when they kick on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls about five feet from the ground so they can sample air where occupants are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them in dead-air places and near windows or doors.
  • Put one in rooms above garages.

Test your CO detectors regularly and maintain them per manufacturer guidelines. You will typically need to switch them out within five or six years. You should also ensure any fuel-burning appliances are in in good working order and appropriately vented.