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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Dover Residence

Property owners must safeguard against a variety of risks like burglary, flooding, and fire. But what about a risk that can’t be discerned by human senses? Carbon monoxide poses a unique challenge as you may never know it’s there. Nevertheless, using CO detectors can easily safeguard your loved ones and property. Explore more about this dangerous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Dover residence.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer as of a result of its absence of color, taste, or odor, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas caused by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that uses fuels like an oven or furnace can produce carbon monoxide. While you usually won’t have any trouble, issues can present when equipment is not frequently serviced or adequately vented. These mistakes may lead to a build-up of this potentially deadly gas in your interior. Generators and heating appliances are the most frequent causes for CO poisoning.

When subjected to lower amounts of CO, you could notice headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to elevated concentrations could lead to cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and death.

Recommendations On Where To Place Dover Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home lacks a carbon monoxide detector, purchase one now. If possible, you should install one on each floor of your home, including basements. Here are several recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Dover:

  • Install them on every level, specifically where you have fuel-burning appliances, such as fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, and gas dryers.
  • Always have one no more than 10 feet away from sleeping areas. If you only install one CO detector, this is where it should go.
  • Position them at least 10 to 20 feet from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid placing them immediately next to or above fuel-consuming appliances, as a small degree of carbon monoxide could be discharged when they kick on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Secure them to walls approximately five feet off the floor so they will test air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them in dead-air zones and next to windows or doors.
  • Put one in rooms above garages.

Check your CO detectors regularly and maintain them per manufacturer instructions. You will usually need to replace them within five or six years. You should also make sure any fuel-consuming appliances are in in proper working shape and adequately vented.