Lethal carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by all the fuel-burning appliances and equipment commonly found in and around our homes. Every year, exposure to this deadly gas kills more than 400 Americans and sends thousands more to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. Since you can’t smell, see or taste carbon monoxide, having CO alarms installed in your home is vital to protect your family’s health and well-being.
CO Alarms Are Critical for the Safety of Your Family
It’s critical to understand that having at least one CO alarm installed near the sleeping area of your home is just the first step in reducing the risk of compromised indoor air quality and accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s equally important to maintain and test CO alarm regularly to ensure they’re functioning properly.
Make Routine Testing a Year-Round Priority
CO alarm maintenance is a simple chore that only requires a brief time commitment, but making it a habit can provide peace of mind that they’ll alert you when unsafe levels of carbon monoxide are present in the home.
Since exact time frames and testing methods can vary between manufacturers, be sure to check your owner’s manual for specific guidance. In general, you should:
- Test both battery-operated and hard-wired alarm every month. You’ll just need to find and press the test button for a few seconds. A properly-working CO alarm should make a beeping sound.
- Replace alarm batteries if no sound is produced. If it’s still silent, purchase a new device.
- Put fresh batteries in each CO alarm twice a year. An easy way to remember is to replace the batteries when you make daylight saving time adjustments to all the clocks.
- Invest in new CO alarms if you’ve had the same ones for five years or more, since age is a key factor in whether these life-saving devices work properly. Look for new ones with built-in alerts to let you know when the next replacement is due.
Learn more about how to test CO alarms, as well as other indoor air quality solutions available from the pros at Pruett Air Conditioning, or contact us today at 478-953-4986 to schedule an appointment for your Warner Robins area home!
Image Provided by Shutterstock.com