ADT® Authorized Dealer Serving Boulder, Longmont, & Surrounding Areas
Carbon monoxide detector attached to wall of home
January 08, 2024

Where To Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Boulder Home

Residents must protect against a variety of risks like fire, flooding, and burglary. But what about something that can’t be perceived by human senses? Carbon monoxide presents unique challenges because you may never realize it’s there. Nevertheless, using CO detectors can simply safeguard your family and property. Learn more about this hazardous gas and where to place carbon monoxide detectors in your Boulder residence.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Called the silent killer because of its absence of odor, taste, or color, carbon monoxide is a commonly found gas produced by incomplete fuel combustion. Any appliance that consumes fuels like a fireplace or furnace may produce carbon monoxide. While you typically won’t have a problem, issues can crop up when appliances are not regularly maintained or adequately vented. These missteps can lead to an accumulation of this dangerous gas in your residence. Generators and heaters of various types are commonly responsible for CO poisoning.

When exposed to minute levels of CO, you may experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue nausea, or vomiting. Continuous exposure to elevated amounts may cause cardiorespiratory arrest, and even death.

Suggestions For Where To Place Boulder Carbon Monoxide Detectors

If your home doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector, buy one today. Ideally, you should use one on each floor, including basements. Review these recommendations on where to place carbon monoxide detectors in Boulder:

  • Place them on every level, specifically in areas where you utilize fuel-burning appliances, like furnaces, gas dryers, fireplaces, and water heaters.
  • Always install one within 10 feet of bedroom areas. If you only install one CO detector, this is the place for it.
  • Place them at least 10 to 20 feet from potential CO producing appliances.
  • Avoid placing them directly above or beside fuel-consuming appliances, as a small amount of carbon monoxide may be discharged when they turn on and set off a false alarm.
  • Fasten them to walls approximately five feet off the floor so they can sample air where people are breathing it.
  • Avoid using them in dead-air areas and beside windows or doors.
  • Install one in rooms above attached garages.

Check your CO detectors regularly and maintain them per manufacturer recommendations. You will typically need to replace units within five or six years. You should also make certain any fuel-utilizing appliances are in in optimal working shape and have adequate ventilation.