The carbon monoxide detector in your house has the power to save your life as well as the lives of your loved ones and pets. However, simply putting a carbon monoxide detector will not be enough. It is crucial that you test the alarm to ensure that it works properly.
Why Is Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?
Carbon monoxide is particularly deadly because it is unable to be seen, tasted, touched, or heard. Carbon monoxide may be poisoning the air in your house, and you may not realize it until it’s too late. This “silent killer” is a gas that can only be detected by a working carbon monoxide detector.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide poisoning sends around 15,000 individuals to emergency rooms each year. However, many people who are poisoned by carbon monoxide are unaware of their symptoms until it is too late.
Many of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of other disorders, including:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in Breathing
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Unconsciousness
Types of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors are not all created equal. You may have four different types of carbon monoxide detectors in your house, including:
Metal oxide: This detector uses a connected circuit to monitor CO levels.
Biometric: Color-changing liquids and gels are used in these systems to detect the presence of CO.
Electrochemical: Track CO levels using electrical currents. This detector has the highest accuracy and the longest lifespan.
Optochemical sensor: Carbon monoxide is detected with a color-changing pad, but the quantity of gas in the home cannot be measured.
If you’re wondering, “Does my CO detector still work?” It is essential to know the type of detector you have. Each has a distinct and restricted life lifetime, with metal oxide units lasting three years and biometric units lasting ten.
A Carbon Monoxide Detector’s Importance
Installing a carbon monoxide detector is important. However, merely placing one near your living room is insufficient to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Each floor of the house should have a carbon monoxide detector.
Each bedroom should also have a detector. Install detectors at least 15 feet away from any possible carbon monoxide sources. The chances of a false alert are considerably decreased in this manner. Gas cookers, furnaces, boilers, and fireplaces are common sources of carbon monoxide.
How to Determine Whether Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Is Working
It is essential that you evaluate the performance of your carbon monoxide detector on a regular basis. If the batteries are running low, the detector may not beep at you. Replace the batteries every six months to be preventative.
Replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector as part of your spring and fall routines when you change the time on your home’s clocks.
Clean your carbon dust and dirt from your detectors on a regular basis. If you remove your detector out of the outlet, make sure to put it back in as far as possible when you return it.
Volume is another aspect of the detector’s functioning. Check if the detector’s sound can be heard from each bedroom in the home. The sound should be loud enough to awaken everyone in the household from a deep sleep.
How to Put Your CO Detector to the Test
If you’re wondering how to tell if your carbon monoxide detector is working, the solution is simple: test it. To protect the safety of your family, test your CO detector once a month. The test button is the best approach to test it since it will notify you if the alarm is still sounding. This, however, does not determine whether the equipment monitors CO properly.
To evaluate accuracy, you can buy a test kit that includes a CO canister. This allows you to safely expose the alarm to a high concentration of the harmful chemical, which should cause an alarm. Keep in mind that CO detectors might take up to 30 minutes after gas exposure to trigger an alarm.
Checking your carbon monoxide detector to make sure they it is functioning properly is one of the large list of things HomeSmiles can do at your home during an 18 point thorough inspection and maintenance in your home. To book an appointment at a time that is convenient for you, contact us today.
