Carbon monoxide is an extremely dangerous gas that can accumulate in buildings. The most dangerous attribute of this gas is that it is undetectable to human senses. Without a carbon monoxide detector, the only way to know that carbon monoxide levels are too high is after the onset of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Not only can carbon monoxide detectors save your family from an invisible threat, but they are inexpensive and easy to install.What makes carbon monoxide so dangerous is its similarity in structure to oxygen. This similarity enables the carbon monoxide to bond with the hemoglobin in blood cells. After bonding with the blood cell, carbon monoxide eliminates that blood cell's ability to transport oxygen to other cells. The effects of carbon monoxide are cumulative.Fortunately, carbon monoxide detectors are affordable and reliable. As a bonus, these detectors often require little maintenance and some can provide regular readouts on the carbon monoxide levels in the room. These detectors generally come in one of two styles. The most affordable style is the battery operated detector. Due to the power limitations of the battery, these detectors utilize a passive sensing system to monitor carbon monoxide levels. The other type of detector utilizes an electrical current from the building. This increases the available power and allows the detector to use a more advanced detection system (however, if the power is out, so are these detectors). Regardless of style, all detectors are required by law to conform to certain minimum standards of sensitivity. And while having a detector that passes these standards is better than not having one at all, these standards are very minimal. There are other detectors on the market that read lower levels, alert you at those lower levels, and still do not require actual electric power to maintain it's sophistication.It is generally recommended to have at least one detector per floor and a detector in each room where people sleep. Most people killed or seriously injured from carbon monoxide poisoning were exposed to the gas while asleep. A principle symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is fatigue. As a result, most people exposed to dangerous levels of the gas while asleep will not regain consciousness until they have been treated with oxygen.For more information on carbon monoxide detectors, please feel free to contact the professionals at Air Assurance. Air Assurance proudly serves the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!