Are you in the market for a carbon monoxide detector? Before you answer, you should know that carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is virtually impossible to detect. Harmful levels can cause serious illness, or even death.  And, once you’re exposed, its deadly effects can occur within minutes.
Experts at the Home Safety Council recommend that you have at least one carbon monoxide detector on every floor in your home. For additional protection, they recommend one in each bedroom of your home. Opting to add one or more carbon monoxide detectors to your home is a simple, responsible way to ensure your safety and the safety of your family.

Here’s a simple guide to the types of carbon monoxide detectors, how they work, and what you’ll need to know about maintenance and proper usage.

The most affordable and easiest carbon monoxide detectors to use can be plugged into an electrical outlet in your home. These detectors also have a battery-powered option so that they will work during power outages.

Combination smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detectors can be hard-wired into your home’s electrical system. These also come with a back-up battery in case of power outages.

Carbon monoxide detectors do not have to be ceiling mounted the way smoke alarms do. They can be mounted on baseboards or set on bookshelves.

Digital carbon monoxide detectors constantly display carbon monoxide levels in a room

There are three different types of carbon monoxide detectors:

Electrolytic detectors are more costly, but are the most sensitive and efficient.

Colorimetric sensors measure the buildup of carbon monoxide over time. Once this type of sensor sounds an alarm, it may take up to two days for it to reset.

Metal oxide semiconductors detect not only carbon monoxide, but also any other harmful gases that might be in your home

Tips and Maintenance:

If using a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector, be sure to use lithium batteries because they last longer. Test them weekly (monthly for a hard-wired model) and replace your batteries every year.
Place your carbon monoxide detector at least 15 feet away from oil or gas appliances to ensure more accurate readings

If someone in your home is hard of hearing, you may need to choose a carbon monoxide detector with special light features so that it will flash during an alarm
Always look at the date of manufacture prior to your purchase to ensure you are purchasing the newest model available

If you’re still confused about just how to go about protecting your home from carbon monoxide poisoning, you’ll want to contact Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning, a reputable, reliable service provider in the Greater Hartford area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about carbon monoxide detectors and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning services South Windsor, Connecticut and the surrounding areas.

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