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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Springfield Home

Residents must safeguard against a variety of risks like burglary, flooding, and fire. But what about a risk that can’t be perceived by human senses? Carbon monoxide presents an uncommon challenge as you might never realize it’s there. Despite that, installing CO detectors can effectively protect your loved ones and property. Explore more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Springfield residence.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer as of a result of its lack of color, taste, or odor, carbon monoxide is a common gas formed by an incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that consumes fuels like an oven or fireplace can create carbon monoxide. While you usually won’t have any trouble, complications can crop up when an appliance is not regularly inspected or properly vented. These mistakes can cause a build-up of this potentially deadly gas in your residence. Heating appliances and generators are commonly culpable for CO poisoning.

When subjected to lower levels of CO, you might notice headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Prolonged exposure to higher amounts may lead to cardiorespiratory failure, and even death.

Tips On Where To Place Springfield Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home is without a carbon monoxide detector, purchase one today. Preferably, you ought to install one on every level of your home, and that includes basements. Review these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Springfield:

  • Place them on each level, particularly in areas where you use fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, fireplaces, gas dryers, and water heaters.
  • Always use one within 10 feet of sleeping areas. If you only install one carbon monoxide detector, this is where it should go.
  • Place them approximately 10 to 20 feet from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid affixing them immediately above or next to fuel-utilizing appliances, as a bit of carbon monoxide may be released when they turn on and prompt a false alarm.
  • Attach them to walls approximately five feet off the floor so they may sample air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid putting them beside windows or doors and in dead-air places.
  • Install one in rooms above attached garages.

Inspect your CO detectors often and maintain them according to manufacturer recommendations. You will usually have to switch them out within five or six years. You should also ensure any fuel-burning appliances are in in good working condition and have adequate ventilation.