Carbon monoxide leaks are an emergency situation. Gas stoves, dryers, furnaces, wood-burning fireplaces and other gas or flame-ignited appliances are all potential sources of carbon monoxide leaks. Carbon monoxide poisoning causes headaches, nausea and other symptoms, which can turn into a life-threatening emergency with continued exposure to this gas. But don't fret.
Carbon monoxide detectors can provide you with an immediate alert when a leak is detected, allowing you and your household to get to safety outside as soon as possible. Keep the following tips in mind when placing carbon monoxide detectors for the best protection possible.
Place detectors at the right level
Carbon monoxide detectors work best when you place them roughly five feet above floors. Putting them too low might cause them to be less effective at detecting carbon monoxide leaks, since carbon monoxide is lighter than air. You can put carbon monoxide detectors on ceilings if you don't have a good spot to put them on the wall.
Keep detectors away from flame sources
Putting carbon monoxide detectors too close to flame sources could cause them to go off when there is no carbon monoxide leak. Keep these detectors away from fireplaces and any flame-producing appliances, such as gas stoves.
Place detectors in safe areas
Carbon monoxide detectors should be kept out of the reach of kids and pets, so they don't play with them or accidentally set them off by pressing buttons. Keeping detectors out of reach also protects them from damage.
Install a detector on every floor
Each floor in your home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector, which helps ensure, no matter where a leak is occurring, the nearest carbon monoxide detector will detect it and alert you and your household.
Place a detector near sleeping areas
Carbon monoxide leaks can occur during the night when you and your household are sound asleep. Having a carbon monoxide detector near sleeping areas in your home helps ensure you and yours will wake up via the alert in the middle of the night, so you can get to safety.
Test detectors regularly
Check your carbon monoxide detectors regularly, such as once a week, to make sure they're working. Replace the batteries in these detectors every year to keep them working properly.
About the Author
Rudden|Bobruska Team
Gary Rudden, Lisa Rudden, and Nick Bobruska
RUDDEN BOBRUSKA TEAM
What sets your team apart from other real estate teams?
There is no team out in the market that offers what we do. All of us are Realtors, but
we each have specialized roles, which make our team so unique!
After decades of living and selling real estate in the DMV, we have established
ourselves as one of the top real estate teams with our market expertise and
cutting-edge technology. Our savvy high-tech marketing is on every website
and social media source. We have a huge network with other top agents, which
helps to premarket homes and discover homes for buyers before they reach the
open market. Our services include professional in-house staging services, broker
expertise in negotiating and navigating contracts, and buyer representation in all
price ranges. Each client has different needs and we create a marketing plan based
on those needs.
Our most distinct feature is our in-house construction and renovation team. We
are literally a full-service, one-stop shop when selling or buying a home!
How does the in-house construction and renovation team work?
All work is managed and completed through our licensed and bonded construction
crew. No need to call outside contractors. We are like “HGTV,” but we just don’t
have a show! Whether it’s a small makeover or a major renovation, we do it all. Our
sellers love this aspect of our team because we make preparing your home for the
market so seamless. Our buyers love the advice and insight we can give for future
renovations and repairs.
Having a licensed Maryland Home Improvement contractor as part of our team
along with the knowledge, experience, commitment and services that we offer, truly
puts our team as a vanguard in the real estate industry.