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January 08, 2024

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your New Orleans Property

Homeowners must defend against various risks like fire, burglary, and flooding. But what about a risk that you aren’t able to smell or see? Carbon monoxide presents unique challenges because you may never know it’s there. Even so, implementing CO detectors can simply shield you and your household. Learn more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your New Orleans property.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Known as the silent killer as of a result of its absence of odor, color, and taste, carbon monoxide is a common gas produced by an incomplete combustion of fuels. Any fuel-utilizing appliance like an oven or furnace can produce carbon monoxide. While you usually won’t have any trouble, complications can present when equipment is not regularly maintained or appropriately vented. These oversights could lead to an accumulation of this dangerous gas in your home. Generators and heating appliances are the most frequent culprits for CO poisoning.

When exposed to minute concentrations of CO, you could experience dizziness, headaches, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Prolonged exposure to elevated amounts could cause cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and death.

Suggestions For Where To Place New Orleans 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 level of your home, including basements. Here are a few recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in New Orleans:

  • Install them on each level, especially in places where you have fuel-burning appliances, including water heaters, furnaces, gas dryers, and fireplaces.
  • You should always have one no more than 10 feet away from bedroom areas. If you only install one carbon monoxide detector, this is where to put it.
  • install them approximately 10 to 20 feet away from potential CO sources.
  • Avoid installing them immediately above or next to fuel-utilizing appliances, as a little carbon monoxide may be emitted when they turn on and set off a false alarm.
  • Secure them to walls about five feet above the ground so they may measure air where occupants are breathing it.
  • Avoid putting them near doors or windows and in dead-air places.
  • Install one in areas above garages.

Check your CO detectors regularly and maintain them per manufacturer guidelines. You will generally need to replace units every five to six years. You should also ensure any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in good working shape and sufficiently vented.