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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Mansfield Property

Residents must defend against a variety of risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about a risk that can’t be detected by human senses? Carbon monoxide is different from other threats because you might never know it’s there. Despite that, using CO detectors can simply shield your family and property. Find out more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Mansfield home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer because of its absence of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a readily found gas produced by incomplete fuel combustion. Any appliance that consumes fuels like an oven or fireplace can produce carbon monoxide. While you typically won’t have problems, issues can crop up when appliances are not frequently serviced or properly vented. These oversights can lead to a build-up of this potentially deadly gas in your residence. Heating appliances and generators are the most frequent causes for CO poisoning.

When subjected to minute amounts of CO, you might suffer from headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations can cause cardiorespiratory arrest, coma, and death.

Suggestions On Where To Place Mansfield Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home is without a carbon monoxide detector, get one today. Ideally, you should use one on every floor of your home, including basements. Here are several tips on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Mansfield:

  • Place them on each floor, especially where you use fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, gas dryers, fireplaces, and water heaters.
  • You should always have one within 10 feet of sleeping areas. If you only have one carbon monoxide detector, this is where to put it.
  • Place them about 10 to 20 feet from potential CO sources.
  • Do not affix them immediately above or next to fuel-utilizing appliances, as a non-threatening amount of carbon monoxide may be discharged when they turn on and prompt a false alarm.
  • Secure them to walls approximately five feet above the ground so they will sample air where occupants are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them in dead-air zones and next to doors or windows.
  • Put one in rooms above attached garages.

Test your CO detectors often and maintain them according to manufacturer instructions. You will typically have to switch them out in six years or less. You should also ensure any fuel-burning appliances are in in proper working order and adequately vented.