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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Athens Residence

Residents must protect against various risks like fire, burglary, and flooding. But what about a danger that you are unable to see or smell? Carbon monoxide poses a unique challenge because you may never realize it’s there. Despite that, using CO detectors can simply shield you and your household. Find out more about this dangerous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Athens home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer due to its absence of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas caused by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any fuel-burning appliance like a fireplace or furnace may produce carbon monoxide. Although you typically won’t have any trouble, issues can arise when appliances are not routinely inspected or properly vented. These missteps could lead to an accumulation of this dangerous gas in your residence. Generators and heaters of various types are the most common culprits for CO poisoning.

When in contact with low amounts of CO, you could experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Prolonged exposure to higher levels can cause cardiorespiratory arrest, and potentially death.

Suggestions For Where To Place Athens Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t own a carbon monoxide detector in your residence, get one now. Ideally, you ought to install one on every level of your home, including basements. Browse these tips on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Athens:

  • Put them on each floor, particularly in places where you utilize fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, gas dryers, fireplaces, and water heaters.
  • Always have one no more than 10 feet away from bedroom areas. If you only install one CO detector, this is where to put it.
  • Place them approximately 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Do not position them immediately next to or above fuel-burning appliances, as a non-hazardous amount of carbon monoxide may be discharged when they turn on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Secure them to walls about five feet from the ground so they can test air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them in dead-air areas and near doors or windows.
  • Install one in rooms above garages.

Check your CO detectors often and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer instructions. You will generally need to replace units every five to six years. You should also make sure any fuel-burning appliances are in in optimal working condition and have proper ventilation.