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Using gas? Get CO alarms

11/7/2011 6:00:00 AM

If your home has a fireplace or any gas appliances, you should install carbon monoxide

alarms in or near every bedroom.

 

The CO alarm will react when it senses that carbon monoxide levels in your house are too high, usually because an appliance is malfunctioning. CO alarms do not detect gas leaks.

Here are eight tips for ensuring your CO alarm works when you need it:

 

 

 

1. Replace your alarms every five years. Most warranties cover only five years.

 

 

2. Replace your batteries at least once a year or when the device starts making a "chirping" sound. That’s usually a symptom of a low battery.

3. Test the alarm regularly by pressing the "test" button and holding it down for 20 seconds.

4. Locate CO alarms at least 10 feet away from sources of humidity like showers and bathrooms, where steam can cause them to overreact.

5. Place a CO alarm on every level of the house and at the top of the basement stairs, even if

 

there are no bedrooms on those floors.

 

 

 

6. Do not put a CO alarm in the garage, kitchen or the room with your gas furnace.

 

 

 

7.If your alarm goes off too often, it probably means it’s too close to a fireplace or a gas fur

nace or stove. It also could mean that your gas appliances are not burning the fuel completely. If you see a yellow or orange pilot light, that could be the case. Call a plumber to check it out.

 

8. Leave the alarm plugged in all year, not just during heating season. Your gas stove, clothes dryer and water heater also are potential sources of CO leaks. And a running car in the garage can cause a CO problem in the home.