Best place to install smoke and carbon monoxide detector

Fire and Carbon Monoxide Threats

Smoke and flames from a fire are easy to see, but a fire that begins in a vacant part of the house or starts in the middle of the night can spread undetected. Once a fire starts, it can grow quickly.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poses an invisible threat. It's a colorless, odorless gas produced by any fuel-burning appliance or fixture, such as a furnace, water heater or fireplace. Carbon monoxide can build up in the home from malfunctions or improper venting in these devices. It can also accumulate if the home is sealed for energy efficiency, reducing the exchange of inside and outside air. An attached garage in which a vehicle is running can also allow carbon monoxide to enter the home. The gas is dangerous because it replaces the oxygen in the air and, when inhaled, creates a toxic compound in your body. For more on carbon monoxide, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Carbon Monoxide Poisoning information.

A combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm — also known as a smoke and carbon monoxide detector — can warn you when either threat is present and help protect you and your family as well as your home. They're available as battery-powered, plug-in or hard-wired. A hard-wired device requires electrical connections at an available junction box.

Detectors can come with two types of sensors:

• Ionization Sensors: register a flaming fire more quickly
• Photoelectric Sensors: provide a faster response to smoldering fires
  

Where to Install a Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for placement of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Locations include:

• On each floor of the home
• In each bedroom
• In each hallway close to sleeping areas; if a hallway is longer than 40 feet, place devices at both ends
• At the top of stairways going to an upper floor
• At the bottom of stairways going to a basement
• In your living area
• At least 10 feet away from your stove or furnace

They should be mounted on the ceiling at least 6 inches from the wall or on the wall at least 6 inches below the ceiling.

Check your manual for installation locations to avoid and information on how far to install the alarms from furnaces, heaters, stoves, water heaters and other devices.

Some smoke and carbon monoxide alarms allow you to wirelessly connect compatible units so all linked units sound an alarm when one detects a threat. This functionality can warn of hazards in remote areas of the house. If you install linkable units, pay attention to the range and placement restrictions for the linking feature.

Installing a Battery-Powered Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Follow the installation and maintenance instructions that came with your device. Here are the basic steps:

Instructions

Setup and Maintenance

Depending on the alarm model, there may be other procedures you need to follow, including:

• Wirelessly linking compatible units in your home
• Setting up voice notification and location features
• Setting up the unit to work with a home management system
• Using optional battery and mounting locks

In addition to weekly testing, a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm needs regular maintenance to keep it clear of dust. Don't use water, cleaners or other chemicals on the unit.

If the alarm does not have a built-in battery, use only battery types specified by the manufacturer. Write the installation date on the batteries with a permanent marker. Change them at least once every six months.

Keep your manual in a readily accessible location so you can reference it easily for instructions on replacing batteries, reprogramming it or interpreting notifications.

Responding to an Alarm

Have an evacuation plan for your family so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Identify a single gathering point outside the home. Practice evacuation periodically, determining the fastest and safest paths to your gathering point.

If the alarm activates:

• Leave the house immediately.
• Make sure that all family members are out.
• Call 911 from a safe location to report the problem.
• Stay out of the house until emergency responders tell you it's safe to return.

If the problem is carbon monoxide, have a trained technician check any appliances that can generate the gas.

Other Considerations

Make sure you and your family are familiar with the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home:

• Learn the available features and how to use them.
• Understand how the units respond to threats so you can quickly interpret alarms.
• Learn how the device indicates situations such as loss of power, low batteries and end-of-life.
• Know the lifespan and initial power-up date of each unit and replace units at the proper time. Some units alert you when they reach the end of their lifespan.
• After an alarm, follow manufacturer's instructions for resetting or replacing your device.