As cooler weather arrives, now is an excellent time to get started thinking about your residence’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, the Centers for Disease Control says the potential 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 add warmth to your residence. When your heater is operating as it should, the gas is safely vented outside of your home. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to appear into your residence, where long-term exposure can be deadly.
Regardless of the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is escapable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. are killed by it every year. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the hospital due to related symptoms, including headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can safeguard your family is by scheduling yearly maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and using a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a model out there to work for your house and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, including the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it easy to keep on top of keeping your home safe. They’re often available as combination carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can usually be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other advantages of having them in your home:
- Signals that there’s something wrong through voice notifications, plus alerts on your phone.
- Points out the problem spot, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be quieted from your phone.
- Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and reveals findings through a useful report on your phone.
- Informs you of dead batteries with an alert on your phone, not a loud sound in the middle of the night.
- Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the brand.
The only downside of getting Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the cost. These detectors are often much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also offer many useful and important features you can’t get in a non-smart device.
When you’re getting a new device, it’s important to learn where to attach carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages placing a carbon monoxide detector approximately five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is since carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.
We suggest having a detector on each floor of your home, especially outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain 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 styles are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.
But they also have restricted features that aren’t compatible with your phone or smart home devices. They typically have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms each month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in should be tested once a week. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly easy. Use the button to be certain your detector is functioning.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to swap the backup battery at least every year. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to replace it once a month to avoid the dreaded chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re hearing noise or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it often signals it has a low battery. Or, it’s getting to the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you use. In general, it’s approximately 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your specific manufacturer.
If you’re wondering why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s often due to the fact it’s detected hazardous amounts of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with continued, loud beeping, leave your residence right away and call 911.
Now is an excellent time to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is running properly 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 Levy & Son Service Experts can assist you. Contact us at 469-250-0932 today and we’ll help you find the best carbon monoxide detector for your home.