One of the most important elements of having a safe and secure household environment for you and your family is a carbon monoxide detector.
Unlike more perceptible dangers like a physical intruder or fire, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is not discernable to standard smoke detectors. CO is created when fuels like gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide. CO detectors should be installed on every level of your home, and in a central location outside each of your home’s sleeping areas. If bedrooms are spaced apart in different areas of your home, each space will need a CO alarm.
While CO detectors provide life-saving protection against carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s equally important to keep these key CO safety tips in mind to minimize the risk of danger as much as possible:
- If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. DO NOT run a vehicle or any other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not blocked by dirt, snow or any other obstruction.
- If your CO alarm sounds, immediately leave your home to a fresh air location. Make sure everyone inside your home is accounted for. Call for help from your fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive.
- Make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
- Place your durable generator in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings or consider a whole home generator installation.
- Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO. Use outside ONLY.
- Have all fuel-burning heating equipment (fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, wood and coal stoves, space or portable heaters) and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.
- When purchasing new heating and cooking equipment, only select products tested and labeled by a recognized testing laboratory.
To learn more or to schedule an installation, contact Your Home Team today.
By Kelly Williams
