As autumn gets closer, now is an excellent time to get started thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, 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 warm your home. When your heating is operating as it should, the gas is safely moved outside of your house. Breaks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your residence, where long-term exposure can be lethal.
Regardless of the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is escapable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die from it each year. And another approximately 50,000 people are transported to the hospital due to related issues, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can protect your family is by scheduling annual maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, like your furnace and water heater, and using a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s an option out there that fits for your house and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, such as the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it effortless to keep on top of keeping your loved ones safe. They’re often offered as combination carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other benefits of having them in your residence:
- Tells you there’s an issue through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone.
- Reveals the problem spot, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be shut off from your phone.
- Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and explains findings through a full report on your phone.
- Warns you of dying 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 downside of getting Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the expense. These detectors are often much more expensive than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also offer many useful and valuable features you won’t get in a non-smart device.
When you’re installing a new device, it’s important to learn where to put carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends placing a carbon monoxide detector at least five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is due to the fact carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.
We advise using a detector on each floor of your residence, as well as 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 reasonable. A couple of the most popular types are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.
But they also have limited 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 once a month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in should be tested weekly. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly straightforward. Press the button to be certain your detector is running.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to replace the backup battery at least every 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 more frequently, it often indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s reaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you use. Typically, it’s around 5–10 years, but make sure to check instructions from your device’s manufacturer.
If you’re concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s usually due to the fact it’s detected high concentration of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with continued, loud beeping, leave your house immediately and contact 911.
Now is a good time to confirm your carbon monoxide detector is functioning like it’s supposed to before heating season arrives. If you need to set up furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Climate Control Service Experts can assist you. Get in touch with us at 251-202-7503 today and we’ll help you select the best carbon monoxide detector for your residence.