Carbon Monoxide Detectors Can Save The Lives Of Those You Love Most

Be A Hero – Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

One of the easiest ways to rest peacefully at night?  Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors in your home or property.  If you have gas appliances, water heaters, fireplaces or an attached garage, you are required by law to have carbon monoxide detectors installed.  Why?  Because they work.  Carbon monoxide is odorless, and cannot be smelled, however it is lethal.

These Carbon Monoxide detectors should be installed on every level of the home, and outside bedrooms.  Unlike smoke detectors, these detect a carbon monoxide leak in your home.  For instance, a tenant in Greenbelt had a water heater carbon monoxide leak, and a neighbor’s carbon monoxide detectors detected the leak and saved the neighbors life.  See story.

Carbon monoxide detectors will not detect  fire, but they will recognize leak not associated with a fire.  A leak that may go undetected through any other means, and undetected while your family is asleep.   Like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors can be either battery-operated or hard-wired. A battery-operated detector or a plug-in detector with battery backup helps ensure that the unit works even in the case of a power outage.

Recently a family on Maryland’s eastern shore died because of carbon monoxide poisoning.  They were using a portable generator in the home, something that should never, ever be done.  However, if detectors were installed,this catastrophe could have been prevented.

Carbon monoxide weighs about the same as air, and, unlike smoke that rises, it mixes with air to distribute evenly throughout the house. Therefore, you can install carbon monoxide alarms in nearly any location, unlike smoke detectors, which should be installed high on the walls or ceiling. carbon monoxide detectors installed near an ordinary electrical outlet or high on the wall are equally effective.

There are also combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors available which save space. Choose the model that best suits your household’s needs. To work properly, detectors should be clear of furniture, draperies, or other obstructions to normal air flow.

Having a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home is the most effective way to keep a watch on the levels of carbon monoxide in your home. However, there are some other safety precautions you can also take:

• Never idle your car in an enclosed garage
• Never use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time
• Never use a charcoal grill indoors
• Never sleep in a room heated by a gas or kerosene space heater without proper ventilation
• Do not use any gasoline-powered engines such as mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines, or generators in enclosed spaces
• Keep fuel-burning appliances well-maintained and have them inspected yearly by a qualified technician

A detector can provide added protection against carbon monoxide, but is no substitute for proper use and upkeep of appliances that produce it. Be sure to take adequate measures to prevent you and your family from falling victim to carbon monoxide poisoning.