The Location Of Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Home Is Critical

Carbon monoxide detectors are becoming as commonplace in homes as smoke detectors, and for good reason. This odorless, colorless gas is just as dangerous at high levels as a fire, but carbon monoxide has no warning signs.Carbon monoxide poisoning leads to headaches, nausea and even death. The elderly, small children and pregnant women are especially at risk when exposed to even low levels of CO. That's why it is critical to have carbon monoxide detectors in your home.And the placement of your CO detectors, once you have them, is crucial. Experts agree that detectors should be located:

• On every floor of the home. If you live in a single-story home, consider placing detectors at each end of the home.

• At least 12 inches below ceilings but higher than eye level. Because CO rises, placing an electronic CO detector in an outlet near the floor, for example, wouldn't be effective.

• Away from fireplaces, fuel-burning appliances the garage and areas that produce heat (bathrooms or saunas).

• In or near bedrooms. Experts say that if you place only one CO detector in your home, put it in the master bedroom or as close to sleeping areas as possible so that you and your family can hear an alarm as soon as possible.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set 35 ppm (parts per million) as the high point for a safe carbon monoxide level. Anything higher becomes a health risk. Health problems occur quickly and there isn’t time for a carbon monoxide detector to fail. Many CO detectors sold at home improvement stores will sound an alarm at 40 ppm or higher, but low-level detectors purchased through an authorized dealer can begin to let you know of danger much sooner.One of the top detectors on the market is the NSI 3000. The unit detects CO levels that protect people in every category (from the elderly to healthy people). It operates using three alarm sounds: a low level for 15 ppm; a high level for 35 ppm; and a crisis level for 70 ppm and over. The 70 ppm alarm is loud and cannot be turned off.  This unit also has a digital display that starts reading at 5ppm to give you that extra sense of security.As serious as carbon monoxide poisoning is, you want carbon monoxide detectors that take this matter just as seriously. They could save your life. At Air Assurance, we carry CO detectors and we can give you expert advice on the installation and use of these critical tools. Call us today if we can answer any questions.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Ventilation Without Wasting Energy: Check Out An Energy Recovery Ventilator

Energy recovery ventilation units (ERVs) allow you to recapture energy produced by your HVAC system while ventilating your home. They bring in fresh, filtered air while expelling used, stale air. They also “recycle” energy by collecting humidity and warmth (or coolness) from outgoing air and essentially “giving” it to incoming air. This allows them to help maintain indoor temperatures and humidity levels. ERVs can recover around 70 percent to 80 percent of outgoing energy, making them some of the most efficient ventilation options on the market.Energy recovery ventilators differ from heat recovery ventilators in that they capture humidity along with the outgoing temperature. This occurs in the heat exchanger. Here the currents of incoming and outgoing air cross, and energy from the outgoing stream is collected. The two currents don’t combine.Most ERVs are complex ventilation systems, but there are smaller models that attach to pre-existing ducts, or even wall-mounted or window-mounted models. ERVs typically require more maintenance than a standard system. The heat exchanger is also susceptible to frost in cold weather, which can damage the system, so keeping them serviced is important.According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside 60 percent of US homes is hazardous due to the build-up of indoor pollutants such as off-gassing from carpets, fumes from household cleaners, dust, mold and other dangerous microbes. This is an unfortunate side effect of homes that are tightly sealed to maximize energy efficiency. Air cleaned by an ERV can dramatically improve the health of many people suffering from chronic respiratory conditions.ERVs are generally most efficient when used in climates with very hot summers or very cold winters, but they can be utilized year round in temperate climates like ours to help maintain humidity levels in drier weather and preserve energy created by the HVAC system. Energy recovery ventilation systems often cost more to install than regular units, but choosing a model that attaches to existing ducts can help with the financial costs, offering great savings that recoup costs over time.Give Air Assurance a call to learn if an energy recovery ventilation system is right for your home.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas.  To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.