As fall approaches and everyone starts winterizing the yards, shutting down swamp coolers, and preparing furnaces for winter, it is normal to tighten up your home to prepare for the winter to come. Sealing up windows and doors is a natural thing to do when the air outside turns cold. One of the most important things to remember is to test your carbon monoxide detectors. Testing your detectors is usually done when we set our clocks back. Each manufacture is different so look at your detector to see how to test it.
Carbon monoxide detectors are not good forever. So this fall, take a little closer look and see if the manufacture has a suggested replacement date. Most carbon monoxide detectors have a life expectancy of about 5 years. If you are unsure about how old it is, don’t hesitate to replace it. A good carbon monoxide detector today will range from about $39.00 to $79.00 and can be found at any hardware store. Some detectors are battery operated and others are able to plug into a wall socket.
I recommend installing one carbon monoxide detector per floor in a central area in the home, like a hallway. Carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air, so plugging one into the wall or mounting it near the ceiling is perfectly fine. The mechanical room and kitchen (although logical) is not the best place for the detectors to be installed. The result of an old or faulty detector is not worth the risk. A new carbon monoxide detector is a small investment for the safety of you and your family.
Come visit our show room. With the purchase of a carbon monoxide detector and mentioning this blog I will give you a free 1” standard size furnace filter for your system ($8.95 value). This offer is good for the month of October 2013.
Brian Jackson
