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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Champaign Home

Residents must protect against a variety of risks like burglary, flooding, and fire. But what about a danger that can’t be detected by human senses? Carbon monoxide poses a unique challenge because you may never realize it’s there. Nevertheless, using CO detectors can effectively safeguard your family and property. Explore more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Champaign home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Known as the silent killer because of its absence of color, taste, or odor, carbon monoxide is a common gas caused by incomplete fuel combustion. Any appliance that uses fuels like a furnace or fireplace may produce carbon monoxide. Even though you typically won’t have a problem, difficulties can arise when equipment is not frequently serviced or properly vented. These missteps can cause a build-up of the potentially lethal gas in your interior. Generators and heaters of various types are commonly responsible for CO poisoning.

When exposed to low levels of CO, you might experience fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Prolonged exposure to high amounts could cause cardiorespiratory arrest, and potentially death.

Suggestions For Where To Place Champaign Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, purchase one now. If possible, you should install one on each floor, including basements. Browse these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Champaign:

  • Install them on each floor, particularly where you have fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, fireplaces, gas dryers, and water heaters.
  • Always have one no more than 10 feet away from bedrooms. If you only have one CO detector, this is where it should go.
  • Place them approximately 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid affixing them right above or next to fuel-burning appliances, as a bit of carbon monoxide may be discharged when they turn on and set off a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls approximately five feet above the floor so they will measure air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them in dead-air areas and next to windows or doors.
  • Install one in areas above garages.

Check your CO detectors regularly and maintain them per manufacturer guidelines. You will typically have to replace units within five or six years. You should also make sure any fuel-burning appliances are in in optimal working shape and adequately vented.