Maintaining your indoor air quality is about more than just staying comfortable. Your health actually depends on a working ventilation and filtration system in your home. If it fails to prevent or eliminate airborne pollutants and common allergen triggers, like pet dander and mold, you could get sick. But some airborne menaces are even more threatening; they could cost your life. Carbon monoxide is the most harmful household gas, and a carbon monoxide (CO) detector is your best defense against it.
Risks and Sources of CO
Carbon monoxide is so deadly because it’s difficult to detect without a detection device. It has no odor, color or taste, and its symptoms usually takes effect gradually. When it does, it can kill people and pets within hours. If your home contains any of the following, get at least one carbon monoxide detector:
- Stove fueled by natural gas
- Fireplace or stove that lacks ventilation
- An attached garage – fumes from vehicles and gas-fueled tools and appliances quickly fill enclosed spaces and may be sucked into your home
- Gas- or propane-fueled furnace or water heater
- Generators and charcoal-burning appliances meant for outdoor use (or used outdoors near an open window)
If your water heater and furnace are properly maintained and ventilated, dangerous combustion gases will be safely exhausted out of your home. That’s why regular HVAC maintenance is so important in preventing carbon monoxide leaks. Experts can keep your gas-burning appliances in working order, detect leaks in your ductwork, and make sure your ventilation system is filtering and directing all harmful gases outdoors.
Where to Install Your CO Detector
A CO detector should be installed on every level of your home and near any sleeping area. If you have an attached garage, place one near the common door. Don’t forget to check and replace the batteries twice a year in battery-operated units to keep each detector fully functional.
Contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. for more information about keeping your home safe. Our committed team of heating and cooling experts have spent years servicing homes throughout the Dayton and Springfield areas, and we can help protect yours, too.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Roman Sotola/Shutterstock”
