Installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Outlying Rooms Of A Home

Homeowners often go to great lengths to protect their entire house from fire and theft. However, another hazard is potentially more dangerous. Homeowners can be alerted to a buildup of carbon monoxide in outlying areas of their home by installing detectors at specific locations where the gas might accumulate.

Carbon monoxide is produced when a fuel source burns. Carbon monoxide is invisible and has no smell. The hazardous gas is normally vented safely to the outside of your home. Inside your residence, the presence of carbon monoxide is essentially undetectable without the use of a specialized detection device.

Carbon monoxide detectors are typically placed in close proximity to sleeping areas. Detectors are installed in many new homes during construction, but there are particular features in some houses that may warrant an additional carbon monoxide detector.

Gas-fired water heater

A water heater that burns propane or natural gas must be vented to the outside. The exterior section of a vent pipe may become clogged by the buildup of ice or snow. The pipe could also become obstructed by insects or a nesting animal. Vent pipe obstructions in a basement or a distant room might not be discovered soon enough to prevent the accumulation of carbon monoxide.

Attached garage

A garage attached directly to a house provides convenient parking, but it also presents a potential hazard. An automobile left idling can quickly elevate the level of carbon monoxide in an enclosed space. A carbon monoxide detector placed inside a room adjacent to the garage provides house protection without causing false alarms due to being too close to your vehicle.

Gas-fired clothes dryer

Lint often accumulates in the ductwork that vents the exhaust from a gas-fired clothes dryer. A heavy accumulation of lint might prevent the exhaust gas from escaping freely. A substantial blockage in the ductwork could cause carbon monoxide to seep unknowingly into your laundry room.

Some carbon monoxide detectors provide a digital display of the current detection reading. In addition to the current level, the highest level of carbon monoxide detected recently over a specific period of time may also be reported. A digital display allows you to observe any fluctuations over time at an outlying detector location, even as the carbon monoxide level remains beneath the alarm threshold.

The ductwork for your gas-fired appliances should be inspected before adding carbon monoxide detectors. Contact an HVAC contractor for more information on installing detectors near outlying sources of carbon monoxide.

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