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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Mesa Property

Property owners must defend against various risks like burglary, fire, and flooding. But what about a risk that you aren’t able to smell or see? Carbon monoxide creates a unique challenge because you may never know it’s there. Nevertheless, using CO detectors can easily protect yourself and your household. Learn more about this potentially lethal gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Mesa home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer because of its lack of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any appliance that consumes fuels like a fireplace or furnace may create carbon monoxide. Although you normally won’t have any trouble, issues can arise when an appliance is not routinely serviced or adequately vented. These missteps could lead to an accumulation of the potentially lethal gas in your residence. Heating appliances and generators are the most frequent reasons for CO poisoning.

When in contact with low levels of CO, you might notice fatigue, headaches, dizziness nausea, or vomiting. Extended exposure to higher concentrations can lead to cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and death.

Tips On Where To Place Mesa Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your residence, buy one now. Ideally, you should use one on each floor, including basements. Here are several tips on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Mesa:

  • Install them on every level, specifically in areas where you use fuel-burning appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces, gas dryers, and fireplaces.
  • Always have one no more than 10 feet away from bedrooms. If you only have one CO detector, this is the place for it.
  • Position them about 10 to 20 feet from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Avoid installing them right next to or above fuel-consuming appliances, as a bit of carbon monoxide may be discharged when they start and set off a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls about five feet from the floor so they will sample air where occupants are breathing it.
  • Avoid installing them in dead-air places and next to windows or doors.
  • Put one in areas above garages.

Check your CO detectors regularly and maintain them in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. You will generally have to replace units within five or six years. You should also ensure any fuel-burning appliances are in in good working condition and have proper ventilation.