You probably have several smoke detectors in your home, but may not realize just how important it is to have a carbon monoxide detector installed too. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning kills several hundred people in their homes every year in the US, and an estimated 20,000 more are sickened by the gas. Many of these deaths occur while homeowners are asleep.
Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer. If you have any gas appliance, you portable generator, a dryer or hot water tank that runs on natural gas or propane, a charcoal grill or furnace that burns oil or gas, all of these appliances can produce the poisonous gas, although you wouldn’t be able to identify any emission.
A power washer, lawnmower and even your car can all produce deadly carbon monoxide. And if you have a backup generator outside your home, you still need a CO detector, as cracks, ventilation pipes, and gaps under the door can still allow the deadly gas to enter your home.
Installing one or more carbon monoxide detectors in your home means that the presence of the gas is detected before it can reach any potentially dangerous level. Just like your smoke alarm, the alarm is loud enough to wake you up, and it gives you enough time to ventilate the affected area, turn off an appliance or evacuate your home. You should have a detector on every floor of your home, close to your appliances and to where you sleep.
Having a carbon monoxide detector is just as important if you live in an apartment building, as the gas can collect in certain communal areas of the building, such as storage areas or the basement. Having a detector installed in any of these shared or public areas is essential.
Carbon monoxide detectors are easy to install, affordable and foolproof to use. They can be combined with your smoke detector and hardwired into the electric system in your home. And they might just save your life.