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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Evansville Property

Homeowners must safeguard against a variety of risks like burglary, fire, and flooding. But what about something that can’t be detected by human senses? Carbon monoxide poses an uncommon challenge because you may never be aware that it’s there. Even so, installing CO detectors can easily safeguard you and your household. Explore more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Evansville home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer due to its lack of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a common gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that uses fuels like a furnace or fireplace can generate carbon monoxide. While you usually won’t have a problem, complications can crop up when appliances are not frequently serviced or properly vented. These mistakes can lead to a proliferation of the potentially lethal gas in your home. Generators and heating appliances are commonly responsible for CO poisoning.

When exposed to minute concentrations of CO, you may notice headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to elevated levels may lead to cardiorespiratory failure, and even death.

Suggestions On Where To Place Evansville Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector, purchase one now. Ideally, you should install one on every level of your home, including basements. Here are some tips on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Evansville:

  • Put them on every floor, especially where you have fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, fireplaces, gas dryers, and water heaters.
  • You should always have one no more than 10 feet away from sleeping areas. If you only install one carbon monoxide detector, this is where to put it.
  • Place them approximately 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Avoid placing them directly beside or above fuel-utilizing appliances, as a non-hazardous amount of carbon monoxide might be released when they start and set off a false alarm.
  • Attach them to walls approximately five feet above the floor so they will measure air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid putting them next to doors or windows and in dead-air areas.
  • Place one in spaces above attached garages.

Check your CO detectors routinely and maintain them per manufacturer guidelines. You will typically have to replace them every five to six years. You should also ensure any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in good working shape and have proper ventilation.