If you’re concerned about keeping your family safe, you might be asking yourself, Where should I install carbon monoxide detectors in my home? Show
To ensure complete coverage, the most important places to put carbon monoxide detectors are near all sleeping areas, on every level of your home, near attached garages, between 25 and 15 feet from fuel-burning appliances and fireplaces, and anywhere else the detector manufacturer recommends. There’s an ongoing debate over whether you should place carbon monoxide detectors low on the wall close to the floor or high on the wall close to the ceiling. In short, the placement height doesn’t matter because carbon monoxide spreads evenly throughout a room. This isn’t my opinion; experts arrived at this conclusion by conducting a scientific study. Since this is such a hot topic, I dive deeper into it later in this article (skip ahead to that section). To avoid false alarms, do not install carbon monoxide detectors within 15 feet of fuel-burning appliances, near bathrooms, in direct sunlight, behind furniture, or in the direct path of flowing air such as vents, fans, and open windows. Every house with fuel-burning appliances, such as a gas-burning furnace or stove, produces a small amount of carbon monoxide. If all systems are operating properly, the majority of that carbon monoxide is safely vented out of your house. However, if there are leaks, malfunctions, or system failures, carbon monoxide levels in your home can rise to toxic levels and become extremely dangerous, even deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide poisoning claims the lives of hundreds each year and makes thousands more severely ill. Fortunately, carbon monoxide detectors are incredibly effective at alerting you when gases in your home exceed the safe zone. As long as you have enough detectors and install them in the correct places, you and your family will be protected from any harm. Now that you know the basics about where to put carbon monoxide detectors in your home, let’s get into more detail so you can ensure your family stays safe for years to come. Click the links below to go straight to a section.
Near all sleeping areas. On every floor. Near an attached garage. Near fuel-burning appliances like gas furnaces and stoves. Where the manufacturer recommends. Where to Avoid Putting Carbon Monoxide DetectorsAs important as it is to ensure you have enough detectors in the right spots, it’s also important to avoid installing them in places that will trigger false alarms. Within 15 feet of fuel-burning appliances. Bathrooms, direct sunlight, and in the path of flowing air. Behind curtains of furniture. In reach of small children. Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement: High or Low?There’s a consensus among experts about which rooms to install carbon monoxide detectors; however, there’s debate over the ideal placement height. The short answer is that the placement height of carbon monoxide detectors does not matter because carbon monoxide spreads evenly (ceiling, middle, floor) throughout the air in a home. 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. The truth is, the placement height of carbon monoxide detectors does not matter, and this has been proved by a scientific study. In 2012, Elsevier, an academic research and publishing company, conducted a study to determine if the placement height of carbon monoxide detectors matter. Dr. Neil B. Hampson MD, a pulmonologist in Seattle, Washington, who specializes in the treatment of carbon monoxide poisening among other respitory illnesses, led this study. To conduct the study, Hampson and his researchers constructed an 8-foot tall airtight chamber and placed carbon monoxide detectors at the top, middle, and bottom of the chamber. They infused carbon monoxide into the chamber during separate trials at each height level. The results of the trial showed that carbon monoxide did not level out at the top, middle, or bottom but spread evenly throughout the chamber over time. They learned in the study that carbon monoxide is, in fact, lighter than air. However, the difference is so minimal that it has no impact on the concentration of the gas. Some carbon monoxide detectors need to be plugged into an outlet, which is why they are placed lower to the ground. Other detectors feature a digital display that monitors carbon monoxide levels, and, in those cases, eye level is the ideal placement height. If the detector that you buy provides specific instructions on placement height, follow those instructions. Although the placement height of carbon monoxide detectors does not matter, what matters is that you have them throughout your home. Remember, near every bedroom or sleeping area, on every level, near carbon monoxide producing appliances and systems, and the more detectors, the better. What Is Carbon Monoxide?Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and toxic gas that is produced by burning fuels like gas, petrol, diesel, wood, propane, and charcoal. Why Is Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?According to the United States Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning—causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate.” Since carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, there is no way to detect its presence without a carbon monoxide detector. When an appliance leaks, fails, or when rooms are poorly ventilated, dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can saturate your home and cause severe illness and death. It’s extremely important to have proper ventilation and conduct regular maintenance on all appliances, especially in today’s world, where homes are built airtight with heavy insulation. What Are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are dull headaches, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision, and loss of consciousness. For more information on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, visit MayoClinic.org. Carbon Monoxide Detector vs. Monitor: What Is the Difference?When it comes to protecting yourself and your family from dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, you have two options, carbon monoxide detectors or monitors. So what is the difference? Carbon monoxide detectors, also known as alarms, work just like a smoke alarm. When they detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the air, they set off an alarm to warn you. These are the most common carbon monoxide devices, and, in most situations, these work perfectly fine. Carbon monoxide monitors, as their name suggests, actively monitor the levels of carbon monoxide in the air. They typically feature a digital display that provides a real-time readout. Like detectors, monitors will also sound a loud alarm when carbon monoxide rises above the safe zone. Even if carbon monoxide levels are not at a dangerous level, with a monitor, you’ll be able to see when they rise above normal levels and can proactively investigate any issues with appliances or ventilation. If you have young children or live with senior adults, I’d recommend installing at least one carbon monoxide monitor in your house. Children and the elderly are more susceptible to poisoning even when carbon monoxide levels are not dangerous enough to set off the alarm. Only monitors will provide that level of insight. The only downside is that they are more expensive than simple detectors. What Are the Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Monitors?There are dozens of carbon monoxide detectors and monitors on the market. These options all have great reviews and are best sellers on Amazon.
Are Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required by Law?Most states require residential properties to have at least one carbon monoxide detector. According to the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures), residential carbon monoxide detectors are required by law in the following 38 states:
Are you looking for ways to make your home safer? Check out these recent articles:
Where should a carbon monoxide detector be placed?CO alarms should be placed in the same room as fuel-burning appliances (either wall or ceiling mounted) – such as an open fire, gas cooker or boiler. Rooms where people spend the most time – such as living rooms. Additional alarms can be located in bedrooms, relatively close to the breathing zone of the occupants.
How far off the floor should a carbon monoxide detector be placed?Five feet from the ground. Carbon monoxide detectors can get the best reading of your home's air when they are placed five feet from the ground. Near every sleeping area. If your CO levels get too high during the nighttime, it's important that detectors can be heard by everyone sleeping in your home.
Can carbon monoxide be on the second floor?Dangerous carbon monoxide buildup is often trapped on a single floor of your home. The main living and sleeping areas upstairs may be just fine, but if the furnace or water heater in the basement starts malfunctioning, a release of CO gas here could make going downstairs a deadly trap.
Do carbon monoxide detectors go in every room?You should place a CO detector in each major area of your home: in the kitchen, in your living/dining room, in your bedrooms, and the office. If you have children or elderly family members living with you, provide extra protection near their rooms.
|
Should you have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 en.frojeostern Inc.
