Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that can injure or kill people very quickly. Any area where there is a heater or other type of fuel source should have carbon monoxide detectors installed. The prices of the detectors vary and there are many styles and types available. But the investment in a detector is well worth the safety that they provide.
While there are smoke detectors that have carbon monoxide detectors built in to them, they are not the same thing. A smoke detector does not measure gas or sound an alarm if gas is present. When carbon monoxide is in a home it is colorless and odorless, you will not know that it is present without a detector.
More people are injured and killed during the winter months by carbon monoxide poisoning. When a person has a heater or is burning logs in a fireplace, the equipment can emit this gas. When the home has been weather treated, there is little ability for air to flow out of a home and the gas can build up easily.
Carbon monoxide is impossible to detect without sensitive detection equipment. The first detectors did not give an audio alarm. The detector contained a pad that changed color when carbon monoxide was present in a home. As more carbon monoxide was detected, the pad became darker. This detection system was not effective for many people who did not regularly check the detection device.
The gas affects the hemoglobin in the body and the blood does not get the oxygen that it needs to stay alive. As little as 70ppm of carbon monoxide in the air can cause a person to experience headaches, nausea, and fatigue. When the carbon monoxide level reaches between 170 to 200ppm a person will become disoriented, lose consciousness, and can die.
There are several types of carbon monoxide detectors made that can be used in any location. The weight of the gas in the same as that of air. Unlike fires, the gas moves just as air does. For that reason, a detector is effective when it is placed near the floor or towards the ceiling of a home.
The detectors that plug into an electrical outlet are very inexpensive. Some of these detectors have a battery back-up that will keep the detector activated if the power goes out in the home. When using these types of detectors, you need to place a device in each room of your home. They are very small and plug into your wall outlet.
Many smoke detectors now come with a built-in carbon monoxide detector. These systems measure the concentration of CO over time. When the levels reach a certain parts per million, the alarm will sound. It is important if you get a combination system, that you check the carbon monoxide portion of the detector on a monthly basis to make sure that it is working properly.
When carbon monoxide detectors sound an alarm, it is important to leave the area at once. Leaving the doors open when you leave so the house can ventilate, call emergency services to assure that all members of your family are safe and have not been affected by the gas.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=78c98c6e-7cd0-4cb1-aafb-670810ae6187)
No related posts.