ADT® Authorized Dealer Serving West Lafayette, Lafayette, & Surrounding Areas
Carbon monoxide detector attached to wall of home
January 08, 2024

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your West Lafayette Home

Homeowners must safeguard against a variety of risks like burglary, fire, and flooding. But what about a danger that you aren’t able to smell or see? Carbon monoxide is different from other threats because you may never realize it’s there. Even so, using CO detectors can easily safeguard your loved ones and property. Explore more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your West Lafayette property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer due to its lack of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a common gas caused by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any fuel-burning appliance like an oven or furnace may generate carbon monoxide. Although you normally won’t have a problem, complications can present when appliances are not routinely serviced or adequately vented. These oversights could result in an accumulation of this potentially deadly gas in your residence. Generators and heaters of various types are the most frequent reasons for CO poisoning.

When in contact with minute amounts of CO, you might experience dizziness, headaches, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to elevated levels may cause cardiorespiratory arrest, and even death.

Suggestions For Where To Place West Lafayette Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t use at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home, purchase one today. Preferably, you should use one on every floor, and that includes basements. Explore these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in West Lafayette:

  • Place them on each level, particularly in areas where you use fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, fireplaces, gas dryers, and water heaters.
  • You ought to always install one no more than 10 feet away from bedrooms. If you only get one CO detector, this is the place for it.
  • Position them at least 10 to 20 feet from sources of CO.
  • Avoid installing them directly beside or above fuel-utilizing appliances, as a little carbon monoxide might be discharged when they kick on and set off a false alarm.
  • Secure them to walls at least five feet above the ground so they will test air where occupants are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them in dead-air places and next to doors or windows.
  • Place one in spaces above garages.

Inspect your CO detectors regularly and maintain them per manufacturer instructions. You will typically have to replace units every five to six years. You should also make sure any fuel-consuming appliances are in in proper working order and appropriately vented.