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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Arlington Residence

Property owners must defend against a variety of risks like burglary, flooding, and fire. But what about something that can’t be discerned by human senses? Carbon monoxide is different from other risks as you might never realize it’s there. Even so, installing CO detectors can easily shield yourself and your household. Explore more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Arlington residence.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer because of its lack of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that utilizes fuels like a fireplace or furnace can generate carbon monoxide. Even though you typically won’t have a problem, difficulties can crop up when appliances are not regularly inspected or appropriately vented. These oversights can cause a proliferation of this potentially deadly gas in your interior. Generators and heaters of various types are the most common reasons for CO poisoning.

When subjected to low concentrations of CO, you might experience fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Extended exposure to higher levels may result in cardiopulmonary arrest, and potentially death.

Tips On Where To Place Arlington Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t use a carbon monoxide detector in your residence, buy one today. If possible, you ought to use one on each floor, and that includes basements. Review these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Arlington:

  • Install them on each floor, particularly in places where you utilize fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces, fireplaces, gas dryers, and water heaters.
  • You ought to always install one within 10 feet of bedroom areas. If you only install one carbon monoxide detector, this is the place for it.
  • install them about 10 to 20 feet from sources of CO.
  • Avoid installing them immediately above or next to fuel-burning appliances, as a small degree of carbon monoxide could be released when they kick on and set off a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls approximately five feet off the ground so they can measure air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them in dead-air places and beside windows or doors.
  • Put one in areas above attached garages.

Test your CO detectors routinely and maintain them according to manufacturer instructions. You will generally need to replace them in six years or less. You should also ensure any fuel-burning appliances are in in good working order and have adequate ventilation.