As autumn approaches, now is a great time to get started thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season begins, the Centers for Disease Control says the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning builds.
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a byproduct of combustion your gas furnace depends on to heat your house. When your furnace is running as it should, the gas is securely vented outside of your house. Breaks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to spill into your home, where long-term exposure can be deadly.
Despite the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. are killed by it every year. And another approximately 50,000 people are transported to the ER due to related symptoms, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can safeguard your loved ones is by setting up regular maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, like your furnace and water heater, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a solution on the market that fits for your residence and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, such as the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it effortless to stay on top of keeping your loved ones safe. They’re usually sold as dual-purpose carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be linked with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other perks of installing them in your residence:
- Signals that there’s a problem through voice notifications, plus alerts on your phone.
- Locates the problem room, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be quieted from your phone.
- Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and reveals findings through a comprehensive report on your phone.
- Informs you of dead batteries with an alert on your phone, not a loud noise in the middle of the night.
- Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the type.
The only problem with having Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the price tag. These detectors are typically much higher-priced than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many useful and worthy features you won’t receive in a non-smart device.
When you’re installing a new device, it’s vital to learn where to attach carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests installing a carbon monoxide detector around five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is due to the fact carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.
We encourage having a detector on each floor of your home, including outside bedrooms. You’ll want to make sure the noise will wake you up.
Battery-Powered and Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Plug-in and battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors are the most affordable. Some of the most popular models are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.
But they also have restricted features that don’t work with your phone or smart home devices. They generally have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.
The National Fire Protection Association suggests testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms each month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in ought to be tested weekly. If you’re concerned about how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s pretty simple. Depress the button to make sure your detector is functioning.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to replace the backup battery at least once a year. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to swap it once a month to bypass the annoying chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re noticing that sound or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it generally means it has a low battery. Or, it’s approaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors last depends on the brand you own. Typically, it’s between 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your system’s manufacturer.
If you’re confused about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s likely due to the fact it’s detecting high levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with continued, loud beeping, leave your residence as quickly as possible and contact 911.
Now is an excellent time to check your carbon monoxide detector is running like it’s supposed to before heating season arrives. If you need to request furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Roy Inch & Sons Home Services by Enercare can provide support. Get in touch with us at 226-270-1164 today and we’ll help you select the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your house.