If your home doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector, be sure to install one outside every bedroom door. If your home is already equipped, test each detector monthly and replace batteries twice a year. Carbon monoxide (CO) gas is colorless, odorless and invisible, so it’s virtually impossible for humans to know if there are dangerous levels of the gas in their home. Carbon monoxide detectors test the air inside houses constantly, protecting occupants from CO poisoning.

Carbon monoxide gas is a common combustion byproduct. When it’s present inside homes, the usual sources are a defective stove or furnace, or even a fireplace. Outdoors, the most frequent origin is vehicle exhaust. Accumulating in the confines of a house, low-level concentrations of CO can cause symptoms after a short period of exposure. At higher levels, unconsciousness and even death can occur. Certain people, including young children, the elderly and those affected by heart or lung disease or anemia, could be at even greater risk when exposed to lower levels of the gas.

Test Your Detectors

Press the “test” button on the front of the detector and hold it for a few seconds until the alarm sounds. If the alarm doesn’t sound, first make sure the unit is plugged into an outlet (if it’s AC-powered). If the detector is battery-powered, try installing fresh batteries and test again. If the alarm still doesn’t sound, replace it immediately.

Change the Batteries

Twice a year, install new batteries in detectors that are battery-operated. Many detectors that plug into a wall outlet may also utilize batteries for backup power. If the backup batteries are weakening and require replacement, the unit usually emits an intermittent “chirp” to alert you.

Check the Expiration Date

The sensor inside a carbon monoxide detector has a finite lifespan, usually five to seven years. Expired detectors should be replaced. The unit’s expiration date is usually stamped on the back of the detector.

Contact the professionals at Powers Heating & Air serving Fayette, Coweta, and surrounding Counties for more info about installing and maintaining a carbon monoxide detector.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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