Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that is often difficult to identify since it’s colorless and odorless. Installing carbon monoxide detectors in your Los Angeles-area home can protect you and your family from this serious threat. The devices are set at various locations in the house and sound an alarm when they determine that the gas is present.
The best placement for carbon monoxide detectors depends on the specific models you’re using, and you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, which will be included in the owner’s manual or user guide. Certain general rules apply, however, when installing these devices in your house.
- Bedrooms: The sleeping areas of the home should have a detector nearby so that anyone who is asleep when the gas is detected will be awakened. Place the devices so that no bedroom door is more than 15 feet away from a detector.
- Height of placement: The most common placement for carbon monoxide detectors is on a wall. The U.S Consumer Product Placement Commission recommends positioning detectors at a high point on the wall close to the ceiling.
- Areas to avoid: Certain areas are not good location for installing detectors, since they may cause false alarms or damage to the device. Avoid locating the devices in cooking areas, or humid areas such as bathrooms. Do not install a detector near ceiling fans, vents, air conditioners or open windows as doing so may interfere with its proper functioning.
- Fuel-burning appliances: Place detectors in the vicinity of fuel-burning appliances, such as the furnace or water heater, but keep them at least 15 feet away from these units to avoid false positives.
Carbon monoxide detectors have a test button that checks the functioning of the alarm. You can also purchase test kits that can determine whether the device is correctly detecting the presence of carbon monoxide.
For more information about carbon monoxide detectors and other issues related to home comfort, contact us at Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. We have served the Los Angeles region since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood 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.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock