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Carbon monoxide detector attached to wall of home
January 08, 2024

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Hagerstown Property

Residents must safeguard against a variety of risks like burglary, flooding, and fire. But what about a danger that can’t be discerned by human senses? Carbon monoxide creates an uncommon challenge as you may never know it’s there. Even so, installing CO detectors can easily shield your loved ones and property. Learn more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Hagerstown home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer as of a result of its absence of color, taste, or odor, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas produced by an incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that utilizes fuels like a furnace or fireplace may produce carbon monoxide. Although you normally won’t have problems, issues can crop up when an appliance is not routinely inspected or appropriately vented. These missteps can cause an accumulation of the potentially lethal gas in your residence. Heating appliances and generators are the most frequent causes for CO poisoning.

When exposed to lower levels of CO, you may notice headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to higher levels could result in cardiorespiratory failure, and potentially death.

Recommendations For Where To Place Hagerstown Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your interior, purchase one now. Ideally, you ought to use one on each level of your home, and that includes basements. Here are some recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Hagerstown:

  • Install them on each level, especially in areas where you have fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas dryers.
  • Always use one no more than 10 feet away from sleeping areas. If you only have one carbon monoxide detector, this is where it should go.
  • Position them at least 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid placing them directly above or next to fuel-consuming appliances, as a non-hazardous amount of carbon monoxide may be discharged when they turn on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls approximately five feet from the floor so they may sample air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid putting them in dead-air places and near windows or doors.
  • Install one in spaces above attached garages.

Check your CO detectors often and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. You will usually have to switch them out in six years or less. You should also ensure any fuel-burning appliances are in in proper working shape and have appropriate ventilation.