One component of preventative maintenance in a home that often goes overlooked is ensuring good indoor air quality. A big part of this is installing and maintaining an operating carbon monoxide detector. Below is a quick rundown of why these detectors are critical to a safe and healthy property.

Understanding the Importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Your Home

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide (also known as CO) is a toxic gas that has no color, smell, or taste, meaning it can go virtually undetected by humans. Since CO gas is a byproduct of any appliance that burns fuel, such as a car, gas stove or water heater, and non-electric fireplace, it poses a huge risk to homeowners and their families when the gas reaches dangerous, concentrated levels. In fact, the Consumer Products Safety Commission reports an annual rate of 200 deaths and 5,000 injuries due to accidental poisoning from CO gas.

How Can You Keep Your Family Safe?

The best way to keep your family safe from the potentially devastating effects of CO gas poisoning is to install and maintain working carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Just as with smoke detectors, there should be a minimum of one CO gas detector per floor, with detectors installed inside every bedroom and sleeping area and in each common hallway. This is particularly important in homes with forced-air heating, such as those that use a propane furnace or conventional gas for heat, as CO gas can leak into each room via the furnace system.

Additionally, homeowners can further protect their household from CO gas poisoning by scheduling preventative maintenance, cleaning, and routine inspections of their gas-burning equipment. This will reduce the likelihood for appliance malfunction or failure, which can lead to an excess of carbon monoxide buildup in your home.

Looking for assistance with preventative maintenance for your gas-burning appliances? Turn to Rick Ogden Heating & Air Conditioning in Loveland, OH. Serving the Tri-State area, this team has provided the community with top-rated cooling and heating systems since they opened their doors in 1982. In addition to their air conditioning and heating system expertise, customers know they can trust them for reliable, honest, and professional service every time. For a free estimate on 24-hour emergency services or preventative maintenance repair work, give them a call today at (513) 683-3714. To learn more about their water heater and air purifier services, visit them online.