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

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your San Diego Home

Property owners must safeguard against numerous risks like burglary, fire, and flooding. But what about something that can’t be discerned by human senses? Carbon monoxide poses unique challenges because you might never know it’s there. Even so, installing CO detectors can easily safeguard your family and property. Find out more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your San Diego home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Referred to as the silent killer due to its absence of color, taste, or odor, carbon monoxide is a common gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Any fuel-utilizing appliance like an oven or furnace can generate carbon monoxide. Even though you usually won’t have problems, issues can arise when appliances are not routinely serviced or properly vented. These oversights can result in an accumulation of this potentially deadly gas in your interior. Heating appliances and generators are commonly responsible for CO poisoning.

When exposed to lower levels of CO, you could notice dizziness, headaches, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to high concentrations could cause cardiopulmonary arrest, and even death.

Suggestions On Where To Place San Diego Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector, purchase one now. If possible, you should have one on every level of your home, including basements. Explore these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in San Diego:

  • Install them on every floor, particularly where you have fuel-burning appliances, such as fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, and gas dryers.
  • You should always have one within 10 feet of bedrooms. If you only get one CO detector, this is the place for it.
  • Place them about 10 to 20 feet from sources of CO.
  • Do not install them directly above or next to fuel-burning appliances, as a non-hazardous amount of carbon monoxide may be emitted when they turn on and prompt a false alarm.
  • Attach them to walls approximately five feet from the floor so they will measure air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them near doors or windows and in dead-air places.
  • Install one in areas above garages.

Inspect your CO detectors often and maintain them according to manufacturer guidelines. You will usually have to switch them out within five or six years. You should also make sure any fuel-burning appliances are in in proper working shape and have proper ventilation.