Though checking the battery on your carbon monoxide detector every year is on every homeowner’s to-do list, you may not have thought as much about where your detector should be located. Given how serious the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can be, it’s imperative that you take the time to educate yourself about how to ensure your carbon monoxide detector will be effective. Since carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, your detector is essential for guarding against a leak. If you want to keep everyone in your household safe, keep reading to find out more about proper carbon monoxide detector placement.
What should you know about proper carbon monoxide detector placement?
It’s understandable if you feel like you need to search “carbon monoxide detector placement in home” before you install your carbon monoxide detector, as proper placement isn’t often discussed. What many homeowners don’t realize is that where you install your detector does matter quite a bit. Though you may think your carbon monoxide detector should be placed on your ceiling, it’s actually best to place yours against the wall, about five feet off the ground, which allows for earlier detection.
Make sure you have detectors installed in multiple areas within your home. For example, walls outside sleeping areas should always have a carbon monoxide detector nearby. This can help prevent a tragedy by providing a loud warning signal even to family members who are in bed. Even if there are floors in your home that don’t contain bedrooms, there should still be a carbon monoxide detector on every level of your house.
If you’re unaware of the dangers associated with carbon monoxide poisoning, they can be severe. It occurs when too much carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream. This happens because when there is too much carbon monoxide in the air, your body begins to replace the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. In mild cases, this can result in permanent tissue damage, while in other cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.
How else can you stay safe at home?
One thing that many people neglect is the quality of their indoor air, but there is plenty of evidence that breathing in polluted air can have a serious negative impact on your health over time. Air pollution has been linked to several conditions, including coronary artery disease, emphysema, respiratory infections, stroke, and even some forms of cancer. Regular HVAC maintenance, regular cleaning, and the use of products like air purifiers can make a big difference in the quality of the air you’re breathing at home.
The continued spread of COVID-19 is also something you should take into account when making a home safety plan. The CDC has stressed the importance of proper ventilation. You should open doors and windows to let in fresh outdoor air when it’s safe to do so. Even just cracking a window slightly can help. Fans can move virus particles outside rather than letting them linger in your home. A portable air cleaner is also a smart investment, as it can trap particles that are exhaled when talking, coughing, or sneezing.
Taking precautions to avoid a carbon monoxide leak is important, particularly when you think about the potential consequences for members of your household. Installing carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home, especially near bedrooms, is one of the most effective ways to make sure you receive an early warning if carbon monoxide is detected in your house. Carbon monoxide isn’t the only airborne hazard to be concerned about, though, as you should also take steps to improve the overall quality of the air you’re breathing and follow CDC guidance to mitigate the risks associated with the spread of COVID-19. A comprehensive approach is always best if you want to keep yourself and your family safe.
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