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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Newburgh Home

Property owners must defend against a variety of risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about something that you aren’t able to see or smell? Carbon monoxide is different from other threats because you may never know it’s there. Despite that, installing CO detectors can simply shield yourself and your household. Learn more about this dangerous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Newburgh property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Known as the silent killer because of its lack of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas produced by incomplete fuel combustion. Any appliance that utilizes fuels like a fireplace or furnace may generate carbon monoxide. Although you usually won’t have any trouble, complications can present when appliances are not regularly inspected or appropriately vented. These oversights can lead to a proliferation of the potentially lethal gas in your interior. Generators and heating appliances are commonly culpable for CO poisoning.

When subjected to lower amounts of CO, you could experience fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Extended exposure to elevated levels may lead to cardiorespiratory failure, and potentially death.

Suggestions For Where To Place Newburgh Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, get one today. If possible, you should use one on every floor, and that includes basements. Here are several suggestions on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Newburgh:

  • Put them on each level, especially in places where you have fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas dryers.
  • Always have one no more than 10 feet away from bedrooms. If you only install one CO detector, this is where it should go.
  • Position them at least 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Do not position them directly above or beside fuel-consuming appliances, as a small amount of carbon monoxide may be discharged when they kick on and trigger a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls at least five feet off the floor so they will measure air where inhabitants are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them in dead-air places and near doors or windows.
  • Install one in areas above garages.

Test your CO detectors regularly and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. You will typically need to switch them out in six years or less. You should also ensure any fuel-consuming appliances are in in proper working condition and adequately vented.