Now that another heating season is looming, it’s almost time to start using your furnace. Before you do, it’s wise to schedule a maintenance visit so your HVAC technician can ensure that your heating system is operating efficiently and safely. Another safety precaution that’s crucial this time of year is checking that your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
Why Checking Carbon Monoxide Detectors is Critical
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially-lethal gas that’s produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion in home heating equipment and appliances. You can’t see, smell or taste the gas, so the sound of the alarm on your carbon monoxide detectors is the only warning you’ll have if CO is present and poses a poisoning risk. Testing each of your CO detectors regularly is vital to ensure that the alarm sounds to protect you and your family.
How to Test Your CO Detectors
For specific recommendations on how and when to check your CO devices, it’s best to read the instructions in your owner’s manual. Here is some general advice on how to keep carbon monoxide detectors working properly:
- To check the functionality of a detector, locate and press the “test” button for several seconds and the detector should beep. If it doesn’t, replace the batteries and try again. If there’s still no beep, replace the unit.
- Put fresh batteries in each CO detector in your home twice a year. An easy way to remember this important task is to make it habit to switch out the batteries when you’re changing your clocks for daylight saving time.
- The reliability of a detection device decreases with age, to it’s wise to purchase replacements every five years. One way to ensure that you do so is to buy models with built-in replacement alerts.
- If you opt for a plug-in or hard-wired CO detector, choose a model that’s equipped with battery backup so it can still provide protection during a power outage.
For more advice about checking your carbon monoxide detectors or to schedule heating system service in your Dayton home, contact us at today at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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