As cooler weather arrives, now is a good time to begin thinking about your home’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning goes up.
Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a product of combustion your gas furnace uses to warm your home. When your heater is operating as it should, the gas is correctly pushed outside of your residence. Breaks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to spill into your residence, where prolonged exposure can be fatal.
Although carbon monoxide poisoning is avoidable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. are killed by it each year. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the hospital thanks to related issues, such as headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can protect your home is by scheduling regular maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a model out there 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 remain in control for keeping your home safe. They’re often sold as duo carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can usually be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other advantages of installing them in your house:
- Alerts you that there’s an issue through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone.
- Pinpoints the problem area, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be quieted from your phone.
- Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and explains findings through a full report on your phone.
- Alerts you of low 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 kind.
The only issue with installing Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the expense. These detectors are often much higher-priced than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also offer many helpful and important features you won’t get in a non-smart device.
When you’re installing a new device, it’s crucial to know where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages installing a carbon monoxide detector around five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is since carbon monoxide can rise with warm air.
We encourage installing a detector on each floor of your home, as well as outside bedrooms. You’ll want to make sure 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 reasonable. A few of the most popular types 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 each month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in ought to be tested every week. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly easy. Use the button to ensure your detector is running.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to replace the backup battery at least annually. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to swap it once a month to bypass the annoying chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re hearing noise or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it usually indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s getting to the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you have. In general, it’s between 5–10 years, but make sure to read the instructions from your specific manufacturer.
If you’re concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s frequently due to the fact it’s picking up dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your residence immediately and contact 911.
Now is a great time to ensure your carbon monoxide detector is running properly before heating season arrives. If you need to schedule furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts can provide support. Get in touch with us at 226-773-3357 today and we’ll help you find the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your residence.
