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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Lansing House

Property owners must safeguard against various risks like burglary, fire, and flooding. But what about something that you aren’t able to see or smell? Carbon monoxide presents an uncommon challenge as you may never realize it’s there. Despite that, using CO detectors can simply shield your family and property. Explore more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Lansing property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer as of a result of its lack of color, odor, or taste, carbon monoxide is a common gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that utilizes fuels like a furnace or fireplace may generate carbon monoxide. While you usually won’t have problems, complications can crop up when appliances are not regularly serviced or properly vented. These oversights may lead to an accumulation of this potentially deadly gas in your home. Generators and heating appliances are the most consistent culprits for CO poisoning.

When subjected to lower levels of CO, you could notice fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Extended exposure to elevated amounts can cause cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and death.

Tips For Where To Place Lansing Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t own a carbon monoxide detector in your home, purchase one now. Preferably, you ought to have one on each floor, and that includes basements. Browse these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Lansing:

  • Place them on each level, especially where you utilize fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas dryers.
  • Always use one no more than 10 feet away from sleeping areas. If you only install one CO detector, this is where it should go.
  • Position them approximately 10 to 20 feet away from sources of CO.
  • Avoid installing them immediately above or next to fuel-utilizing appliances, as a non-threatening amount of carbon monoxide might be emitted when they kick on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Attach them to walls about five feet from the ground so they can test air where occupants are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them beside doors or windows and in dead-air zones.
  • Put one in spaces above garages.

Test your CO detectors regularly and maintain them according to manufacturer guidelines. You will typically have to switch them out in six years or less. You should also make certain any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in optimal working order and have appropriate ventilation.