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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Bloomington Home

Property owners must protect against numerous risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about a risk that can’t be perceived by human senses? Carbon monoxide poses a unique challenge because you may never be aware that it’s there. Even so, implementing CO detectors can simply shield you and your household. Explore more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Bloomington property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer because of its absence of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas caused by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that consumes fuels like a fireplace or furnace may generate carbon monoxide. While you normally won’t have any trouble, issues can arise when equipment is not frequently serviced or appropriately vented. These mistakes can result in an accumulation of this potentially deadly gas in your interior. Generators and heating appliances are the most common causes for CO poisoning.

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

Suggestions For Where To Place Bloomington Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your interior, purchase one now. If possible, you ought to use one on each level of your home, and that includes basements. Explore these suggestions on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Bloomington:

  • Install them on each floor, specifically where you use fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, gas dryers, fireplaces, and water heaters.
  • Always install one no more than 10 feet away from bedroom areas. If you only have one carbon monoxide detector, this is where to put it.
  • Position them at least 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO sources.
  • Do not affix them directly beside or above fuel-consuming appliances, as a little carbon monoxide could be emitted when they start and trigger a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls about five feet above the floor so they can sample air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them beside doors or windows and in dead-air zones.
  • Put one in areas above garages.

Test your CO detectors routinely and maintain them per manufacturer guidelines. You will usually need to replace units every five to six years. You should also make sure any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in good working order and have proper ventilation.