Updated: Mar. 30, 2021 Show
Carbon monoxide detectors are an essential part of keeping you and your family safe in a home or apartment. Learn how and where to install carbon monoxide detectors correctly to make sure you stay safe.Carbon monoxide detectors are an essential part of keeping you and your family safe in a home or apartment. Learn how and where to install carbon monoxide detectors correctly to make sure you stay safe. Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement Is KeyWhat is Carbon Monoxide?Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless byproduct of combustion. It’s found in the fumes from burning fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, and furnaces. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu: a headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, general confusion, etc. According to the CDC, carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of death in the home and is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or breathing problems. Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to alert you to problems before you start to feel any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Proper placement is critical, though, in order for carbon monoxide detectors to work properly. Follow these tips to make sure your home has the right number of carbon monoxide detectors and that they’re placed in appropriate spots. Best Practices for Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement and Installation
By following these simple steps and giving some thought to where you’ll be placing your carbon monoxide detectors, you can make sure you and your family remain safe from this silent killer. Originally Published: March 30, 2021 Similar ProjectsPopular How-To Videosⓘ How many carbon monoxide detectors are needed in a house?The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home, including the basement. A detector should be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door and there should be one near or over any attached garage. Each detector should be replaced every five to six years.
Where is the best location for a carbon monoxide detector?The best place for a CO detector is on a wall roughly five feet from the floor, where it can measure the air at a height that people in the house are breathing it. A reasonable alternative is placing the detector on the ceiling and six inches from the wall.
Where should a carbon monoxide detector be placed high or low?Some say detectors are more effective closer to the ground because they believe carbon monoxide is heavier than air; therefore, it concentrates low to the floor. Other experts recommend installing detectors high on the wall or on the ceiling because carbon monoxide is lighter than air and rises like smoke.
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