As autumn approaches, now is a good 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 builds.
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a byproduct of combustion your gas furnace uses to add warmth to your house. When your heater is running properly, the gas is safely pushed outside of your house. Cracks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to seep into your home, where ongoing exposure can be fatal.
Regardless of the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die from it each year. And another approximately 50,000 people are transported to the emergency room thanks to related symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can protect your home is by organizing annual maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, such as your furnace and water heater, and using a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s an option on the market that matches for your residence and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, like the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it effortless to remain in control for keeping your family safe. They’re frequently available as combined carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other benefits of installing them in your house:
- Signals that there’s an issue through voice notifications, plus alerts on your phone.
- Points out the problem spot, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be quieted from your phone.
- Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and shares findings through a full report on your phone.
- Notifies you of dying batteries with an alert on your phone, not a loud chirp in the middle of the night.
- Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the kind.
The only problem with having Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the price tag. These detectors are sometimes much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also include many useful and important features you won’t receive in a non-smart device.
When you’re installing a new device, it’s crucial to know where to attach carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests putting a carbon monoxide detector at least five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is since carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.
We encourage installing a detector on each floor of your residence, especially outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain the beeping will wake you up.
Battery-Powered and Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Plug-in and battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors are the most affordable. 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 typically have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.
The National Fire Protection Association urges testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms once a month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in need to be tested weekly. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly easy. Depress the button to ensure your detector is working.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to swap the backup battery at least every year. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to change it once a month to skip the dreaded chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re noticing a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it generally indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s reaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors work depends on the brand you own. Most often, it’s around 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your system’s manufacturer.
If you’re wondering why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s likely due to the fact it’s detected high amounts of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your house immediately and contact 911.
Now is an excellent time to ensure your carbon monoxide detector is working properly before heating season starts. If you need to set up furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Contact us at 561-629-1826 today and we’ll help you select the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your home.