As fall arrives, now is a great time to get started thinking about your residence’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, the Centers for Disease Control says the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a result of combustion your gas furnace depends on to warm your home. When your heating is operating as it should, the gas is correctly pushed outside of your residence. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to appear into your house, where long-term exposure can be deadly.
Regardless of 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 go to the hospital thanks to related issues, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can help your loved ones is by setting up yearly 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 a solution available that fits for your residence 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 home safe. They’re often offered as dual-purpose 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 using them in your house:
- Alerts you that there’s something wrong through voice notifications, as well as alerts on your phone.
- Pinpoints the problem room, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be silenced from your phone.
- Automatically tests its sensors and batteries and explains findings through a useful report on your phone.
- Informs you of dying batteries with an alert on your phone, not a loud noise in the middle of the night.
- Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the type.
The only downside of having Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the cost. These detectors are frequently much more expensive than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many useful and valuable features you can’t find in a non-smart device.
When you’re buying a new device, it’s important to know where to attach carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends installing a carbon monoxide detector approximately five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is since carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.
We suggest having a detector on each floor of your residence, including outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain the alarm 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 few of the most popular models 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 generally have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms once a 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. Press the button to ensure your detector is working.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to change the backup battery at least once a year. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to swap it once a month to skip the annoying chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re noticing noise or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it often indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s approaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors last depends on the brand you use. Typically, it’s between 5–10 years, but make sure to read the instructions from your specific manufacturer.
If you’re wondering why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s usually due to the fact it’s sensing high levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with continuous, loud beeping, leave your home immediately and contact 911.
Now is a great time to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is functioning normally before heating season begins. If you need to request furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can provide support. Contact us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you find the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your home.