Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas produced as a by-product of combustion. It is especially dangerous because it is odorless, and has no taste or color. Therefore, if you don’t have CO detectors in your home, you and your loved ones could fall victim to dangerous levels of CO, without even knowing it.
A good rule of thumb is to have at least one CO detector on each floor of your home, and particularly within 15 feet of bedrooms or sleeping areas. You want the detector to wake you and your loved ones from a sound sleep, if necessary. However, be sure to CO detectors no closer than 15 to 20 feet of any fuel-burning appliance or heating source, to avoid false alarms.
There are three types of CO detectors from which you can choose:
- Biomimetic CO detectors use a gel that turns dark when it comes into contact with CO, and then sound an alarm when unsafe levels are reached. While less expensive than other types, they are not always reliable in the levels of CO that they detect, due to how varying humidity levels can affect readers and other environmental factors in your home.
- Metal-oxide CO detectors react quickly when their tin oxide components sense the gas. These need to be plugged into a wall outlet, which means you run the risk of the plug losing contact with the outlet, or a failure during a power outage. Additionally, these types of CO detectors are sensitive to household chemicals and high humidity levels, which can result in false readings.
- Electrochemical CO detectors have electrodes that are submerged in an electrolyte solution. When CO combines with the electrolyte solution, it sets off an alarm. The one drawback of this type of CO detector is that it is less durable than the other two types. However, if you are consistent in replacing the sensor every two years, it typically is the most reliable of the three types.
Regular maintenance and inspection of CO detectors is vital. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, hundreds of people die each year as a result of carbon-monoxide poisoning, and thousands more are injured. A good portion of these deaths and injuries are due to improperly maintained CO detectors. If you have a battery operated CO detector, check the batteries once a month. And replace your CO detectors at least once every two years.
For more information, contact the professionals at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving residential and commercial customers in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro areas of Minnesota since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about CO detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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