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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your South Bend House

Property owners must protect against various risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about a danger that you are unable to see or smell? Carbon monoxide presents unique challenges because you may never know it’s there. Nevertheless, using CO detectors can effectively protect your loved ones and property. Learn more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your South Bend residence.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer due to its absence of color, taste, or odor, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas caused by an incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that utilizes fuels like a furnace or fireplace can create carbon monoxide. Even though you typically won’t have problems, difficulties can present when an appliance is not regularly inspected or properly vented. These oversights could lead to a proliferation of this dangerous gas in your residence. Heating appliances and generators are commonly to blame for CO poisoning.

When in contact with low concentrations of CO, you could suffer from fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Prolonged exposure to higher amounts may cause cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and death.

Tips For Where To Place South Bend Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home lacks a carbon monoxide detector, get one today. If possible, you should have one on each level of your home, including basements. Here are a few tips on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in South Bend:

  • Put them on every floor, especially in areas where you use fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, fireplaces, gas dryers, and water heaters.
  • You ought to always use one no more than 10 feet away from bedroom areas. If you only get one CO detector, this is the place for it.
  • Place them at least 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Do not position them directly above or beside fuel-utilizing appliances, as a bit of carbon monoxide could be released when they turn on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Attach them to walls about five feet above the floor so they can measure air where occupants are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them in dead-air zones and next to windows or doors.
  • Put one in rooms above attached garages.

Inspect your CO detectors regularly and maintain them according to manufacturer instructions. You will typically have to replace them within five or six years. You should also make certain any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in optimal working condition and adequately vented.