You should put carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Ensure they’re at least 5 to 20 feet away from any fires sources that could cause false alarms.

As a colorless and odorless gas, carbon monoxide can be a sneaky and dangerous threat to your household. In fact, the CDC reports that every year at least 430 people die and roughly 50,000 are hospitalized from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

While you might know where to put smoke detectors in your house, you could be less sure about the placement and installation of CO detectors. The

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Where to place carbon monoxide detectors

The

Consumer Product and Safety Commission

recommends placing CO detectors on each level of your home and outside sleeping areas.

CO is produced by flame sources and fuel-burning machines like fireplaces, furnaces, gas dryers, water heaters, and vehicles. Since it’s lighter than air, it rises slightly—so it’s best to install them roughly five feet from the floor. If a wall mount doesn’t work for your house, another option is on the ceiling, six inches from the wall.

Outside bedrooms

Placing a detector in the hallway near bedrooms is important as it allows those in the room to hear the warning if gas is detected. This is particularly crucial as the symptoms of CO poisoning are often so mild that they won’t wake you.

If you have several detectors, placing them inside the rooms will give you even greater protection.

In the kitchen

To avoid false alarms, don’t place it near or over a flame-producing appliance such as a stove, grill, or fireplace. Placing it 5 to 20 feet away from a fire source is ideal.

Basements and more

Since basements are a common location for furnaces, water heaters, and laundry machines, it goes without saying that a detector is beneficial down there. Rooms above garages shouldn’t be looked over since automobiles are a major source of carbon monoxide.

Key Takeaway Carbon monoxide detectors are necessary on every floor of your house.

How to install carbon monoxide detectors

To install, follow the instructions that came with your CO detector. Should you need some further help, here are some basic tips:

Keep detectors six feet from flame or fuel source to avoid false alarms. Mounting on the wall at five feet off the ground or on the ceiling six inches from the wall is ideal. This might be dictated by whether you have a plug-in or battery-powered detector.

Trace and drill holes to hang the mounting bracket.

Don’t forget to only use fresh batteries!

Test your device by following instructions—typically by pressing and holding the “test” button until you see lights and hear the alarm.

Attach the detector to the mounting bracket.

How to maintain your carbon monoxide detector

Both smoke and CO detectors need regular maintenance to operate properly. To maintain your alarm start by pressing your device’s test button to see the battery level. Even if the device is working, you should still replace the batteries once per year.

CO detectors have a limited lifespan. Unlike smoke detectors that make a beeping noise when the battery is low, CO detectors beep when it’s time to replace them entirely. Plan to replace your CO detector every five to seven years.

Types of carbon monoxide detectors

There are three main types of carbon monoxide detectors. To land on the one that’s best for your home, here’s a breakdown of the options.

Dual smoke/CO detectors

Some detectors do it all. These are great options if you have a smaller living space or if you desire to reduce clutter. This streamlined approach will alert you in case of a fire or carbon monoxide leak.

Battery-operated CO detectors

These are the simplest and easiest to install. The lack of plug frees you up to place these wherever you would like and move them as often as you want.

You will need to replace the batteries at least once each year to ensure the functionality of the detector.

Hardwired or plug-in detectors

These can link into the existing household current or be plugged into a power source. While they might not be as flexible as battery-operated, you also don’t have to worry about remembering to replace the batteries!

Key Takeaway The right CO detector for you will depend on the type of home you have and whether you need batteries or can hardwire the detectors.

How to find affordable home insurance

Carbon monoxide detectors are critical to protecting you, but you’ll need effective home insurance to protect your home.

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FAQs

What are the signs of CO poisoning?

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu. They include dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

If the alarm goes off and one or more people are feeling symptomatic, immediately go outside and call 911. If no one is feeling sick, ventilate the house and leave, then contact the fire department or a certified technician.

What causes a carbon monoxide detector to go off?

Any fuel-burning appliance can be the cause of a CO alarm. Signs like streaks of soot around fuel-burning appliances or fallen soot in the fireplace can mean a potential problem. Seeing an orange or yellow flame in a combustion appliance (as opposed to blue) is another sign.

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