As fall approaches, now is an excellent time to get started thinking about your home’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season is underway, the Centers for Disease Control says the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.
Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a result of combustion your gas furnace uses to heat your residence. When your heating is working like it’s supposed to, the gas is securely moved outside of your home. Cracks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to seep into your residence, where long-term exposure can be lethal.
Regardless of the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is avoidable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. are killed by it every year. And another approximately 50,000 people go to the hospital due to related ailments, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can safeguard your loved ones is by organizing regular maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, such as your furnace and water heater, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a solution on the market that matches for your home and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, such as the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it easy to keep on top of keeping your home safe. They’re often sold as duo carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be used with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other benefits of installing them in your residence:
- Alerts you that there’s a problem through voice notifications, plus alerts on your phone.
- Points out the problem room, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be shut off from your phone.
- Automatically reviews its sensors and batteries and shares findings through a comprehensive report on your phone.
- Alerts you of low batteries with an alert on your phone, not an annoying noise 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 cost. These detectors are typically much higher-priced than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also offer many useful and important features you can’t find in a non-smart device.
When you’re installing a new device, it’s important to learn where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages installing 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 suggest installing a detector on each floor of your house, including 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 economical. A couple 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 link 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 every month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in need to be tested every week. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s more or less easy. Use the button to make sure your detector is functioning.
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 avoid the irritating chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re noticing that sound or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it often indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s reaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors last depends on the brand you use. Most often, it’s around 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your system’s manufacturer.
If you’re confused about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s often due to the fact it’s detecting dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with continuous, loud beeping, leave your residence as quickly as possible and contact 911.
Now is a good time to confirm your carbon monoxide detector is functioning normally before heating season starts. If you need to request furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Golden Seal Service Experts can assist you. Contact us at 630-246-2698 today and we’ll help you find the best carbon monoxide detector for your home.