As autumn gets closer, now is a great time to get started thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning builds.
Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a product of combustion your gas furnace depends on to warm your residence. When your heater is operating as it should, the gas is securely vented outside of your home. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to appear into your home, where ongoing exposure can be deadly.
Despite the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die because of it every year. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the ER thanks to related issues, such as headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can protect your home is by setting up yearly maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and getting a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s an option available that fits for your home and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, such as the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it straightforward to keep on top of keeping your loved ones safe. They’re usually available as dual-purpose carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can typically be used with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other advantages of having them in your residence:
- Alerts you 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 silenced from your phone.
- Automatically reviews its sensors and batteries and explains findings through a full report on your phone.
- Warns you of low batteries with an alert on your phone, not an annoying chirp in the middle of the night.
- Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the kind.
The only issue with having Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the price. These detectors are sometimes much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many useful and important features you won’t find in a non-smart device.
When you’re buying a new device, it’s vital to know 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 because carbon monoxide can rise with hot air.
We recommend having a detector on each floor of your house, especially 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 reasonable. A couple of the most popular styles are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.
But they also have limited features that aren’t compatible with your phone or smart home devices. They usually have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.
The National Fire Protection Association urges testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms each month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in need to be tested once a week. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly simple. Depress the button to ensure your detector is running.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to replace the backup battery at least annually. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to change it once a month to skip the irritating chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re noticing that sound or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it usually means 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 have. In general, it’s approximately 5–10 years, but make sure to read the instructions from your system’s manufacturer.
If you’re confused about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s usually due to the fact it’s picking up hazardous levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your home as quickly as possible and call 911.
Now is a great time to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is functioning properly before heating season arrives. If you need to schedule furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Midland Air Service Experts can assist you. Get in touch with us at 803-399-7208 today and we’ll help you pick the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your home.