As fall arrives, now is a great time to start thinking about your home’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, the Centers for Disease Control says the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning goes up.
Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a result of combustion your gas furnace relies on to warm your home. When your furnace is running like it’s supposed to, the gas is securely moved outside of your house. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to appear into your home, where long-term exposure can be lethal.
Despite the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is escapable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die from it annually. And another approximately 50,000 people are transported to the emergency room because of related issues, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can protect your home is by organizing annual maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, like your furnace and water heater, and getting a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s an option available to work for your home and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, including the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it simple to keep on top of keeping your family safe. They’re frequently available as duo carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other advantages of installing them in your residence:
- Signals that there’s an issue through voice notifications, plus alerts on your phone.
- Points out the problem area, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be shut off from your phone.
- Automatically reviews its sensors and batteries and reveals findings through a useful report on your phone.
- Alerts 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 kind.
The only downside of getting Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the price tag. These detectors are sometimes much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also include many helpful and important features you don’t receive in a non-smart device.
When you’re getting a new device, it’s vital to know where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends placing a carbon monoxide detector approximately five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is because carbon monoxide can rise with hot air.
We advise using a detector on each floor of your home, as well as outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be 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. Some of the most popular styles 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 typically have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.
The National Fire Protection Association advises testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms each month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in should be tested every week. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly easy. Use the button to be certain your detector is working.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to swap the backup battery at least annually. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to change it once a month to bypass the annoying chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re getting a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it generally signals it has a low battery. Or, it’s getting to 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 concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s frequently due to the fact it’s detecting high levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your residence as quickly as possible and contact 911.
Now is a good time to check your carbon monoxide detector is running normally before heating season begins. If you need to set up furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Rob's Albertan Service Experts can assist you. Get in touch with us at 780-800-9047 today and we’ll help you find the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your house.