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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Medford Home

Property owners must safeguard against various risks like fire, burglary, and flooding. But what about something that can’t be discerned by human senses? Carbon monoxide is different from other threats because you may never be aware that it’s there. Nevertheless, installing CO detectors can easily shield your family and property. Find out more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Medford home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer because of its lack of color, odor, or taste, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas produced by an incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that uses fuels like an oven or furnace can create carbon monoxide. Even though you normally won’t have any trouble, complications can present when an appliance is not frequently serviced or properly vented. These missteps could lead to a build-up of the potentially lethal gas in your residence. Generators and heaters of various types are commonly to blame for CO poisoning.

When in contact with lower amounts of CO, you might suffer from headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to higher amounts may result in cardiorespiratory arrest, and potentially death.

Tips For Where To Place Medford Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your residence, buy one now. If possible, you should use one on each floor, including basements. Here are a few suggestions on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Medford:

  • Put them on each level, especially in places where you have fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces, fireplaces, gas dryers, and water heaters.
  • You should always use one no more than 10 feet away from bedrooms. If you only get one carbon monoxide detector, this is where it should go.
  • Position them about 10 to 20 feet from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid placing them directly next to or above fuel-burning appliances, as a bit of carbon monoxide could be emitted when they kick on and set off a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls approximately five feet above the floor so they can sample air where inhabitants are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them in dead-air places and near doors or windows.
  • Put one in spaces above attached garages.

Check your CO detectors routinely and maintain them according to manufacturer recommendations. You will generally have to replace them in six years or less. You should also make certain any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in proper working order and appropriately vented.