Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless toxic gas responsible for about 500 deaths and 15,000 emergency room visits in the United States each year. Carbon monoxide can be emitted from faulty gas-powered equipment such as heaters, as well as everyday household appliances like clothes dryers, stoves, water heaters, cars, and more.
Proper Placement of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
When it comes to the safety of your family in your home, carbon monoxide is not something that should be taken lightly. Carbon monoxide alarms sound off when the CO gas levels in a home are high. Installing a carbon monoxide detector in the right place can make all the difference when it comes to your safety.
Does carbon monoxide rise or fall?
CO gas is unique from many gases in that it mixes in perfectly with the indoor air. This is part of what makes it so dangerous in our homes, especially during the winter months when windows are closed, and we’re recirculating air over and over again.
Our Atlanta and Marietta electrical experts share the best places to put your detector:
- In the bedroom: Place a CO detector within 15 feet of the doorway to each bedroom. If bedrooms are within 30 feet of each other, one detector is adequate. Gas leaks are common in the middle of the night when your furnace runs to keep your house warm. If a CO leak happens while you sleep, a detector in your bedroom can save your family from fatal tragedy.
- On every floor: If you have a basement, second story, or more, you should have a detector on each floor. CO gas can build up on a single level of your home. Even if the CO levels upstairs are okay, without a detector on the lower levels, there is no guarantee that a malfunction has not turned downstairs into a deadly area.
- Within a couple of feet of the garage door: If you have an attached garage, it is important to place a detector within 10 feet of it. Idle cars in a garage can build up CO levels. If that were to occur and gas started to leak into your home, a detector at the door can warn you.
If you would like some professional help to install carbon monoxide detectors in your home, contact Lightning Bug Electric today. Request a service with our expert team!