Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Everything You Need to Know

Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because it is invisible, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating. It binds to hemoglobin in the blood, displacing oxygen and causing headache, dizziness, confusion, and death at high concentrations within minutes. CO poisoning sends approximately 50,000 Americans to the emergency room each year.

CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels: gas furnaces, boilers, water heaters, gas stoves, fireplaces, wood stoves, charcoal grills, generators, and vehicle exhaust. Any fuel-burning appliance is a potential source of CO if it is malfunctioning, improperly vented, or used in an enclosed space.

Install CO detectors on every level of the home, particularly outside all sleeping areas. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends this placement because CO disperses evenly throughout a building, making concentration highest near bedrooms where people are most vulnerable during sleep.

Replace CO detectors every 5 to 7 years. Like smoke alarms, CO detectors have a limited operational lifespan. Check the manufacture date on the back of the unit and replace according to the manufacturer's recommendations.