Carbon Monoxide Detectors Will Help to Keep Your Family Safe

An important device to have in your home is a carbon monoxide detector, which measures the amount of carbon monoxide, or CO, that is present in the house. An odorless, colorless gas, CO can cause people to become very ill or even die. CO commonly forms due to the incomplete combustion of burning petroleum products. Any appliance in the home that burns fuel can be a source of carbon monoxide. If the level of CO in your home is especially high, it could kill you within minutes of breathing it.

Some of the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and chest pains. Mental confusion is another typical symptom. Unless health professionals have a reason to suspect it, CO poisoning is often very difficult to diagnose, since its symptoms are similar to those of other ailments. It's possible for CO poisoning to kill people who are sleeping or intoxicated, as they may never even be aware of their symptoms. and the confusion that results from breathing carbon monoxide can make it difficult for you to realize that you are in danger.

See also The Top Ten Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The primary sources of carbon monoxide in the home are: Gas heating systems, gas water heaters, gas stoves, vehicles in garages attached to your house, outdoor cooking grills that are moved inside in bad weather, kerosene heaters, gas fireplaces with no vents, and gas dryers that have clogged pipes.You should never use a generator in a poorly ventilated space or run a vehicles engine in a closed garage. Move it outside first! Also check pilot lights on any appliances as they should be blue. A yellow flame is an indicator that incomplete combustion is occurring and high levels of carbon monoxide may be being produced.

Types of Carbon Monoxide Detectors Available

It's important for households to have a carbon monoxide detector to ensure everyone's safety. There are different types of detectors available, from battery-powered models to those that use electrical outlets.

I prefer detectors that are hardwired to a mounting and come with battery back up. A good model that has a digital display of the CO levels present is preferable as you will get advanced warning of problems before the CO builds up to a lethal level. It is not a good idea to use an electrical model in the house without having a battery-powered detector as a back up. A big problem could develop fast if your power goes out and your furnace is still firing. I also don't like to put a detector in any place that children can reach, or in a spot where it can be unplugged and left forgotten while another device is plugged into the power outlet in its place.

If someone in your household is hearing impaired, you will need to get a detector that flashes a bright light in the event of a problem. Always check the expiration date of the device, and be sure to buy the newest model available. It's easy to know when it was made -- just open the package and look for the date of manufacture. You want to buy the newest model, as technology changes constantly.

Where Should You Place the Carbon Monoxide Detector

You should preferably have detectors on each floor of the house and, if possible, in each bedroom. Carbon monoxide is about the same density as air so will not drift to the floor or up to the ceiling but will be moved around with the air currents. The best place to site your detectors is at the same level as people will be sleeping. Combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on the ceiling are not a good idea as by the time the CO reaches the ceiling it could be too late! At a minimum one CO detector should be installed in every home, near any combustible source.

Replace the Detector According to the Manufacturers Instructions

Carbon monoxide detectors do not last forever. In fact they require replacing about every five years. Check with the instructions for your detector to see the manufacturers recommendations. Some detectors will alert you with an audible alarm when they need replacing.

For more information see Carbon Monoxide Detectors for Sale