Carbon monoxide (CO) is a real threat lurking in your Fort Wayne area home. This colorless, odorless gas is hazardous and potentially lethal to humans and animals. It can be emitted from any combustion appliance in your home, including gas-powered water heaters and furnaces, if they're malfunctioning or not venting properly. It is very important to identify CO leaks quickly and address the situation immediately before it endangers your family. Carbon monoxide detectors are the best way to protect your family from this invisible danger.
Detecting Carbon Dioxide
Carbon monoxide detectors will warn you and your family quickly if there is a carbon monoxide leak in your home, giving you time to exit the home and call a professional to find and repair the leak. These alarms usually emit a loud, high-pitched sound that will awaken the household when everybody's asleep. Depending on the floor plan of your home, you may need to place more than one detector in your house so that everyone can hear the alarm.
Where to Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors
You should place a CO detector near the main sleeping area of your house. If you have more than one detector, also place it near (but not too near) potential sources of carbon monoxide gas such as the gas water heater and furnace. If it's too close, however, harmless trace amounts of CO might trigger a false alarm. If you have an attached garage, place a CO detector near the adjoining door, since cars, lawn mowers and other gas-fueled tools emit carbon monoxide.
Some detectors simply plug into a wall outlet anywhere in your home. Others are hardwired into your electrical system, while others are battery-operated. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are also available.
Special carbon monoxide detectors can also be purchased for hearing-impaired individuals. These detectors feature strobe lights as well as loud alarms when the poisonous gas is detected.
For more information on carbon monoxide detectors and many other topics related to home comfort, health and safety, contact our experts at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. We have been serving Fort Wayne and the surrounding area for 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about carbon monoxide detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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