What do you know about your indoor air quality? If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector, you might not know nearly enough. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about the air in your home and whether or not you should consider installing a detector.
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide, CO, is a gas that is the by-product of combustion. When your furnace burns fuel, the gas that’s left behind is CO. While it’s normally safely vented out through a flue up and out of your home, if there’s a leak, it can be deadly.
Should I Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors?
CO replaces oxygen in your bloodstream and can be fatal with continuous exposure, which is why CO detectors are so critical. They detect the gas in the air in your home before it reaches levels that are dangerous to you and your family. So, the question shouldn’t be should you get them installed, but how many you should have, where to install them, and how soon.
How Else Can I Protect My Indoor Air?
There are several home mechanicals that contribute to your indoor air quality, particularly from carbon monoxide. They include:
- Gas furnaces
- Gas stoves and ovens
- Gas water heaters
- Generators
- Space heaters
Having these appliances inspected regularly can help prevent a catastrophe. And having carbon monoxide detectors is the best emergency notification device you can install in your home, right next to your smoke detectors.
For more information on installing carbon monoxide detectors, proper inspection and maintenance for your furnace, as well as more tips on improving your indoor air quality, contact the pros at H.H. Hovey today.
