If your household doesn't already have a carbon monoxide detector installed, then you're unwittingly putting yourself and your family at serious risk. Carbon monoxide is an extremely toxic gas, and because it's completely odorless, tasteless and colorless, there's no way to detect its presence without a detector.
Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed near your bedroom, at least five feet above the floor. This way, you're sure to be awakened by the device's alarm in the event of carbon monoxide levels rising in your home while you sleep. Be sure to keep carbon monoxide detectors away from humid areas like bathrooms, or where heating or cooking appliances are located -- conditions in these areas can trigger false alarms.
Many of the newer carbon monoxide detectors can last as long as five or six years before they need to be replaced, while in the past this number was significantly lower. Some even alert you when they're nearing the end of their life spans, eliminating the need for you to keep track. There are also different types of detectors, most easily categorized by whether they run on batteries, or by using one of your home's outlets. Beyond that, battery-operated ones usually utilize a "passive" type of carbon monoxide sensor, which generally react to prolonged exposure to the gas. Detectors that use the current of your home via an outlet, on the other hand, periodically purge themselves of any carbon monoxide, and then re-test for its presence.
With this knowledge of carbon monoxide detection devices in mind, there's no excuse for putting your family at risk any longer. For any HVAC needs near the Hampton Roads area, contact us at Russell's Heating & Cooling.
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