Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Keeping Your Family Safe

In our climate, homes are often closed up for long periods to make heating and cooling efficient. If you have fuel-burning appliances or equipment like a furnace, water heater, kitchen range or clothes dryer, well-functioning carbon monoxide detectors are a necessity to protect your family's well-being when your home is closed up against the weather.

How CO Detectors Help Protect Against Exposure

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete fuel combustion, and this lethal, invisible gas has no taste or odor. If inhaled, CO attaches to hemoglobin the bloodstream, which deprives the brain, organs and body cells of vital oxygen. Carbon monoxide detectors have sensors that can detect the presence of the gas and produce a loud alarm to warn you against:

• Low level exposure that causes flu-like symptoms including fatigue, nausea, headaches and dizziness.

• High concentrations of CO that can rapidly cause unconsciousness, coma, brain damage and death.

Keeping Your CO Detectors Working Properly is Key

The first step in protecting your family against accidental carbon monoxide exposure is to install detectors on each level of your home. To ensure that these essential safety devices are able to warn you when CO is present, you can't simply install them and forget them. Instead, you need to keep them working properly by:

Testing all your detectors monthly.

This usually involves pressing the test button and waiting for a high-pitched beeping sound that signals the unit is working.

Replacing the batteries in each device at least annually.

This necessary maintenance for plug-in detectors too, so the battery can keep the unit functioning during a power outage.

Replacing failing detectors as needed.

CO detectors lose their ability to sense CO gas after about five to seven years. New models give an audible warning to alert you when they need replacing.

Keeping your fuel-burning appliances and equipment well maintained.

Any combustion devices should have annual preventive maintenance that includes an inspection, cleaning and tuneup to keep them operating safely.

To schedule water heater or HVAC maintenance that can help your carbon monoxide detectors protect your Broken Arrow home, contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors are Important for Your Home Safety

A carbon monoxide detector is an extremely important device to have in your home. If you don't have one, this is the perfect time to buy one. We're going to look at the importance of this device and the tips to consider when buying one. If you already have one, we've also got you covered with maintenance tips.

Why Do You Need a Detector?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that you cannot smell, see or taste. It is a combustion byproduct, produced by common household appliances like furnaces, gas water heaters and fireplaces. Depending on the concentration level, exposure to carbon monoxide can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, convulsions, unconsciousness and even death.A carbon monoxide detector protects you by sounding an alarm after detecting a certain amount of the gas in the air. You can then respond appropriately by turning off appliances, ventilating the area or evacuating occupants.

What Types are Available?

There are three types of detectors available: hard-wired, plug-in and battery-operated. Hard-wired detectors are wired to your household's electrical circuit and are connected to other detectors. Plug-in detectors can be plugged into any electrical outlets. Battery-operated rely on batteries to operate and are not affected by power outages. For that reason, it is advisable to include a battery backup with plug-in and hard-wired detectors.

What Tips Should You Consider When Buying a Detector?

When shopping for a new detector, make sure you do the following:

• Check the town or county regulations on alarms and placement.

• Check whether the detector is UL listed. Only purchase one that is listed.

• Check the detector's date of manufacture. This is to help you know the right time to replace it, which is after five years.

How Should You Maintain a Detector?

Perform the following maintenance tasks:

• Check your unit's battery life. Replace old batteries.

• Test your detectors to ensure they're working properly.

• Replace detectors that are five years or older.

Make sure you include maintaining your carbon monoxide detector in your fall home maintenance checklist. For more information, contact Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Aysezgicmeli/Shutterstock”

The Importance of Testing Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors Regularly

While installing carbon monoxide (CO) detectors should be a requirement in any house, don't decide that's enough. Carbon monoxide detectors must be tested regularly to make sure they're still operational. 

The Danger of Carbon Monoxide

With enough exposure, this invisible, odorless gas can kill you. It can do its deadly work through gradual exposure over time or through a sudden, substantial buildup in a small, poorly ventilated room. An average of 170 Americans die each year of accidental residential CO exposure. Defective combustion heating equipment is the usual suspect, though other potential causes can occur any time of year.

Testing CO Monitors

Not all carbon monoxide detectors are the same, and different models will have different installation recommendations and testing procedures. However, most models call for monthly testing to make sure the battery is working and the device is otherwise operational. In most cases, experts suggest changing the batteries of battery-operated models every six months–perhaps when the clocks change in the early spring and late fall. Remember, too, that even models hardwired into your home's electrical system have battery backups.

The testing process for most carbon monoxide detectors is simple: Press the "test" button down two or three seconds, and when the alarm beep sounds, release the button. That's it. If you don't hear the beep, replace the batteries and test again. If you still don't hear it, take the detector back for a refund and try a different brand. The hassle isn't worth your family's health or lives.

CO Preventative Care

Carbon monoxide detectors are your safety net, but the best outcome, of course, is to avoid CO buildup in the first place. Schedule annual preventative maintenance on all combustion appliances to make sure they're burning their fuel and exhausting combustion gases such as CO efficiently and safely. Don't idle cars in the attached garage, and don't use combustion cooking devices inside the house, in a garage or next to open windows.

For more advice on carbon monoxide detectors, please contact us today at Air Assurance. We serve the greater Tulsa metro area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Grzegorz Petrykowski/Shutterstock”

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mean Year-Round Safety

Thought you had to worry about carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning only in winter? Think again, because furnaces are not the only CO-producing equipment typically used in a home. As a result, carbon monoxide detectors are equally important year round, and making sure they are properly installed and operational will help to keep your family protected.In addition to furnaces, any other equipment that burns fuel should be cause for concern, and that includes:

• Fireplaces

• Wood-burning stoves

• Water heaters

• Boilers

• Generators

• Stoves

Most homeowners know that CO is a deadly gas, but it’s even more problematic because it’s hard to detect without a mechanical device, and its symptoms mirror those of the flu.If you experience any of the following, immediately leave your home and call for help:

• All of your family are sick at the same time.

• Your symptoms lessen to some degree if you leave the house.

• You notice symptoms appear or worsen when a fuel-burning piece of equipment cycles on.

In all seasons, even in summer, it’s important to install carbon monoxide detectors, but they must be located in the right places. If you use battery-operated devices, you’ll need to check and replace batteries often.For proper protection, experts generally advise that homeowners install a device:

• Close to sleeping areas – If you have multiple sleeping areas, install a detector directly outside the doors to all bedrooms.

• On every floor of your home – If you have a two-story home or a separate add-on space or remodeled attic, centrally install a detector on every floor.

If you want to avoid false readings, there are certain locations you should avoid. Don’t install a detector near your stove, as it will give off minimal CO during start up. And in general, don’t place detectors nearby any equipment that burns fuel. Additionally, install detectors 15 feet away from moisture-production locations, like bathrooms.Get the best protection possible against deadly CO. In every season, carbon monoxide detectors will help to alert you to dangerous home conditions. For expert advice, contact Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Quality-- serving homeowners in the greater Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years.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 websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!     

Steps You Can Take To Check The Quality Of Your Indoor Air

The EPA estimates that your home's indoor air quality may be among the worst you encounter. Considering how much time you spend indoors, taking steps to learn what sorts of pollutants are in your home helps you lower the contaminant load. You can test some components of your air using test kits, available locally or through online resources. The following steps can help you identify problems with your indoor air:

• Measure the amount of radon gas indoors. Radon is almost as dangerous as smoking in causing lung cancer. While the reported levels of radon in Tulsa County are low, exceptions exist. You can hire an indoor air specialist or obtain a testing kit from an online service. The only way to know if radon is a problem is to test it, since the gas is odorless and invisible.
• If you use combustible fuels in your home or have an attached garage, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector will alert you when the levels become dangerous. If you want to monitor the CO levels continuously, choose a hard-wired detector that has a readout that gives periodic updates throughout the day. Like radon, CO is odorless and invisible. Using a detector that tells you what the levels are helps you know when your gas appliances need service.
• Mold can be a problem, both for your health and your home's interior integrity. Test kits are available that sense mold, mildew, fungus and yeast levels.
• If you have recently remodeled or are living in a new home, your indoor air quality could be poor. Paint, flooring, new furniture, dry cleaned clothing and even shower curtains and children's toys can bring in formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that harm your health. Before purchasing products like these, check the labels to be sure that they are low in VOCs. If they are not, introduce the products only when you can open your windows.

If you're suffering from respiratory distress in your home, contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow. We are authorized to test your indoor air quality and we'll help you find a solution.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!     

Staying Safe When Using A Natural Gas Furnace

A gas furnace is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home in central Oklahoma, and it's rarely a safety hazard. However, to minimize any problems with burning a combustible fuel in your home for heat, it helps to follow some guidelines.

• Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector no closer than 15 feet from the furnace. If you have just one detector, place it at eye level close to the master bedroom. CO rises and putting it too close to the floor lowers its reliability. Avoid placing the detector close to a bathroom, since the humidity levels can interfere with its operation.

• Try not to use flammable aerosols in your home during the winter. If you must use one, shut the furnace off and open a door or window until the gas dissipates. Store any flammable material away from the furnace.

• Make sure that your gas meter is in the open, along with your incoming shut-off valve for the gas line. In the event of a problem, being able to turn off the gas quickly can prevent a serious emergency. The gas utility technicians need quick access to the meter, so do not cover it, paint it or allow your children to play around it.

• Report any gas odors immediately to your gas provider. If you don't know their contact number, call 911 for assistance.

• Keep your furnace filter clean or change it regularly. A clean filter is your best defense against premature wear, and will promote efficient operation. When the filter gets dirty, it impedes the flow of air over the heat exchanger inside the gas furnace, which can overheat it. Over time, cracks form in the heat exchanger that can emit carbon monoxide and render your furnace unsafe and illegal to use.

• Have your furnace maintained and inspected each year. The inspection includes a check of the flue, the heat exchanger and the thermostat, as well as a check for leaks in all parts leading to the gas furnace.

Air Assurance in Broken Arrow provides annual inspection and maintenance services for gas furnaces. Please contact us to schedule a visit to keep your system working safely and efficiently.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!     

Don't Risk An Uninvited Guest -- Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

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!