As autumn gets closer, now is a great time to begin thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season begins, the Centers for Disease Control says the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning builds.
Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a product of combustion your gas furnace uses to add warmth to your residence. When your furnace is working properly, the gas is correctly pushed outside of your home. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home, where ongoing exposure can be lethal.
Despite the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die because of it annually. And another approximately 50,000 people go to the emergency room due to related symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can help your family is by organizing yearly maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, such as your furnace and water heater, and getting a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s an option on the market to work for your residence and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, like the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it effortless to remain in control for keeping your family safe. They’re frequently available as combined carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can usually be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other advantages of installing them in your home:
- Tells you there’s an issue through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone.
- Points out the problem room, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be silenced from your phone.
- Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and reveals findings through a full report on your phone.
- Warns you of dead batteries with an alert on your phone, not an annoying noise in the middle of the night.
- Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the kind.
The only issue with getting Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the cost. These detectors are typically much more expensive than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many beneficial and worthy features you don’t find in a non-smart device.
When you’re installing a new device, it’s important to understand where to attach carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages installing a carbon monoxide detector around five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is since carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.
We suggest using a detector on each floor of your house, especially outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain the noise will wake you up.
Battery-Powered and Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Plug-in and battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors are the most affordable. Some of the most popular types are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.
But they also have fewer features that don’t link with your phone or smart home devices. They tend to have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms every month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in need to be tested every week. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s pretty easy. Depress the button to make sure your detector is working.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to swap the backup battery at least every year. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to change it once a month to skip the annoying chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re noticing that sound or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it often signals it has a low battery. Or, it’s approaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors work depends on the brand you own. Typically, it’s approximately 5–10 years, but make sure to check instructions from your system’s manufacturer.
If you’re concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s often due to the fact it’s detecting hazardous amounts of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your residence immediately and call 911.
Now is an excellent time to check your carbon monoxide detector is functioning as it should before heating season starts. If you need to request furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Stevenson Service Experts can provide support. Get in touch with us at 937-503-7896 today and we’ll help you pick the best carbon monoxide detector for your residence.