| |
One
of the most common topics we are asked about at Woodstock Hardware
is about carbon monoxide detectors. Where to put them, how they
work, and the differences between models. Following is a desciption
of why it is important to have carbon monoxide detectors in your
home and how they work. Carbon monoxide
(CO) is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America.
According to The Journal of the American Medical Association
(JAMA), CO poisoning causes approximately 2,100 deaths in the
US per year. The use of CO alarms could potentially prevent many
of these deaths. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is called the silent killer
because it is invisble and odorless. Knowing how to protect your
home and family from CO could be the most important thing you
do, and it is simple. Use this information to help make your
home a safe home.
Facts about Carbon Monoxide.
- CO is produced anytime a fuel is burned.
Potential sources include gas or oil furnaces, water heaters,
space heaters, clothes dryers, barbecue grills, fireplaces,
wood-burning stoves, gas ovens, generators, and car exhaust
fumes.
- CO poisoning is the leading
cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. (Centers
for Disease Control)
- Every year more than 10,000 people die or
seek medical attention due to CO poisoning from home-related
products. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
- More than two-thirds of Americans use gas,
wood, kerosene or another fuel as their home's major heat
source.
- 65% of CO poisoning deaths from consumer
products are due to heating systems.
- Only 27% of homes in America have carbon
monoxide alarms, according to the Hardware/Homecenter Research
Industry.
- An idling vehicle in an attached garage, even with
the garage door opened, can produce concentrated amounts
of CO that can enter your home through the garage door
or nearby windows.
- CO poisoning deaths from portable generators have doubled
for the past two years, and many of these deaths occurred
in the winter months and during power outages.
- A poorly maintained gas stove can give off twice the
amount of CO than one in good working order.
-
How to protect against carbon monoxide
poisoning
- Install at least one battery-powered
CO alarm or AC-powered unit with battery backup on
each level of your home and near sleeping areas.
- Do not use charcoal or gas grills
inside or operate outdoors near a window where CO
fumes could seep in through a window.
- Check all carbon monoxide alarms
in your home. Do they use the most accurate sensing
technology? Do they need new batteries?
- Replace CO alarms every five to
seven years in order to benefit from the latest technology
upgrades.
- Have a licensed professional inspect
heating systems and other fuel-burning appliances
annually.
- Install fuel-burning appliances
properly and operate according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
- Keep chimneys clear of animal nests,
leaves and residue to ensure proper venting. Have
all fireplaces cleaned and inspected annually.
- Do not block or seal shut the exhaust
flues or ducts used by water heaters, ranges and
clothes dryers.
- Do not leave your car running in
an attached garage or carport.
- Do not use ovens or stoves to heat
your home.
Below are a few of the major
features to consider when selecting CO alarms for
the home.
- Accuracy: Look for a statement on
the package about the alarm's accuracy level. If
the CO alarm is UL listed, then the accuracy statement
will have been certified by UL, too.
- Battery Operated: Consumers who
live in areas prone to power outages or who own a
gas-powered generator should consider a battery-powered
CO alarm with a backlit digital display. Battery-powered
units offer 24-hour-a-day CO monitoring when power
is interrupted. The backlit digital display allows
the user to view the CO level in the dark. The alarm
can also be placed on a shelf or wall or moved from
room-to-room.
- Digital Display: A digital display
screen clearly shows the level of CO detected in
the home, and updates the reading every 15 seconds.
- Peak-Level Memory: This feature
records the highest level of CO present. Knowing
the CO level in the home can help emergency personnel
determine treatment.
- Plug-in with Battery Backup: Easy
to plug into any electrical socket, these alarms
include a 9V battery for protection during short-term
power outages.
- Voice Warning: This feature clearly
announces the threat present in the home, in addition
to emitting the traditional alarm beep. It is often
a feature of combination smoke/CO alarms.
Following are the guidelines
for locating a carbon monoxide detector in your home.
Below are recommendations on the optimal placement
of your CO alarms:
- Install at least one CO alarm on
every floor and in sleeping areas.
- Make sure CO alarms are at least
15 feet away from cooking or heating appliances to
prevent false alarms.
- Don't cover or obstruct the unit.
Test the CO alarm monthly.
- Replace CO alarms every 7 years
to benefit from the latest technology upgrades
We hope you find this
information presented about carbon monoxide, it's prevention,
and detection helpful and that your home is protected
against this silent killer.
As you see Woodstock Hardware has the
variety of supplies and technical expertise to help
you properly protect your family inside your home and
your home from the outside environment. The next time
you are working on a home safety project, stop in the
store, and let us help you sucessfully complete the
project.
|
|
