Although homeowners in Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Tyrone, Newnan, Sharpsburg or Senoiam, Georgia don’t experience the kind of winter blizzards that other people in the country do, it can still get pretty cold, especially during the winter nights. Like many of your fellow neighbors, you’ll be putting your heating system to good use. Therefore, it’s important that you make sure that your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are installed correctly and working properly, to prevent a tragedy.

Why do you need carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas that is is a by-product of combustion, and which your furnace, stove and other fuel-burning appliances may emit in small amounts. Those typically aren’t harmful to you or your loved ones. However, occasionally, these appliances can leak dangerously high levels of CO, which is why CO detectors are so important. Additionally, smoke alarms are important because they warn you if a fire breaks out within your home. You can purchase these alarms individually, or install a combined CO detector/smoke alarm.

Where do you install these detectors?

Place smoke alarms on every level of your home. They should be in every bedroom and outside all bedroom areas. However, don’t place any in the garage, kitchen or bathrooms. Smoke from cooking, car exhaust and humidity all can trigger false alarms. Install CO detectors on each level of your home, as well. Don’t place them near appliances that produce CO, as the small amount that they produce could trigger the alarm. Keep them away from exterior windows and walls as well, as the air flow out the windows can cause a lower CO reading than the actual reading inside your home. Ideally, place them no more than 15 feet from sleeping areas, so that the alarm can wake you and your loved ones from a deep slumber, if necessary.

Test your alarms

All alarms should have a test button on them. Additionally, make sure you change the batteries in these devices at least once a year. And ideally, you should replace any smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors that are more than five years old.

Follow these tips to help make sure your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms will do their job this winter. For more information, contact Powers Heating & Air.We provide expert HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) service and customer care to residential and commercial customers in the Peachtree City area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree, GA and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about carbon monoxide detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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