Since the 1990s, the International Association of Fire Chiefs has lobbied hard to make homeowners aware of the virtues of carbon monoxide detectors, which alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide by beeping or sounding an alarm. Like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors can be life savers, especially because unlike smoke and fire, carbon monoxide — or CO, for short — is invisible, odorless and potentially lethal.

As important as it is to have carbon monoxide detectors in your home, it’s even more important that you install them in the correct locations.

CO is produced from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, and can emanate from open flames, space heaters, furnaces, water heaters, dryers, blocked chimneys or a car that is left running in your garage. Exposure to this silent and toxic gas can trigger symptoms that mimic the flu, including headaches, dizziness, fatigue and nausea. High exposure to CO inhibits your body’s ability to send oxygen to your blood tissues, your heart and your brain. At this point, people can begin to vomit, lose muscular coordination and then lose consciousness. CO alarms are designed to go off, and loudly, well before these dangerous levels are reached.

Double your chances of realizing the full advantage of carbon monoxide detectors by following the fire chiefs’ dictate to install one on every floor of your home, as well as in your basement, and near or over an attached garage. Carbon monoxide detectors should be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door, so that they can awaken anyone who is sleeping soundly.

Additionally, to avoid false alarms, you should not install carbon monoxide detectors close to fuel-burning appliances, heating and cooking appliances, or in very humid areas, such as bathrooms.

If you need more information on selecting and installing carbon monoxide detectors for your home, contact the experts at Ibbotson Heating & Air Conditioning Co. We’re ready to help guide you to the best carbon monoxide detectors available, and we’ll help you install them correctly, too. We’ve proudly served residents of Northwest Chicago for more than 60 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about carbon monoxide detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Ibbotson Heating & Air Conditioning Co. services Arlington Heights, Illinois and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!