Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detector Installs in Citrus & Marion County
Safeguard Your Family Against Preventable Disasters
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2,100 people die annually in the United States from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning has actually become the number one poisoning death cause in this country. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, so it’s an undetectable killer if you don’t install a carbon monoxide detector. However, carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is completely preventable if you place a carbon monoxide detector in the right spots. Furthermore, the law stipulates homeowners must install smoke detectors in their homes. You can quickly and effectively protect your family against domestic disasters with CO detectors. Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County will gladly complete a carbon monoxide and smoke detector installation in Crystal River, Inverness, Homosassa, Beverly Hills, and Le Canto, FL.
Avoid Poisoning With Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Do you have sufficient protection against carbon monoxide poisoning in your home? If a CO leak happens because of a malfunctioning appliance while you sleep, you won’t ever wake up to notice this poisonous gas building up in your air without installing a carbon monoxide detector. Additionally, CO can be fatal to your family within minutes, depending on the carbon monoxide level in your air. Carbon monoxide detectors detect when your home has elevated carbon monoxide levels and alert you when there’s a poisoning risk. You might not know what symptoms indicate CO poisoning, so we’ve listed them for your benefit. Symptoms are sometimes similar to having the flu without a fever. You should be aware of the following warning signs:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Lightheadedness
- Vomiting
- Fatigue or weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular breathing
- Chest pain
- Confusion
What Are the Sources of Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide may come from a wide array of household appliances, such as gas clothes dryers, gas or charcoal grills, water heaters, furnaces, gas ranges or stoves, and wood or gas fireplaces. You have sources in your home capable of producing carbon monoxide, like fuel-burning space heaters, car exhaust, and gas or charcoal grills. Using these features and appliances when they have venting malfunctions or in poorly ventilated areas can lead to carbon monoxide building up quickly. If you have a closed woodstove flue or clogged chimney, carbon monoxide can back up into your home. Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County makes your safety our top priority and outlines the following methods to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home:
- Install CO detectors in your home (Minimum of one detector per level and outside each bedroom).
- Change your CO detector batteries every six to 12 months.
- Never run a vehicle, generator, or device with a fuel-fed motor inside your garage or home.
- Always turn off your vehicle when parked in your garage.
- Look for the American Gas Association or Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) seal of approval when purchasing gas appliances or equipment.
- Have a licensed appliance professional inspect your gas appliances annually.
- Never use flameless chemical heaters in enclosed spaces or indoors.
- If you have a malfunctioning gas appliance, have a service expert repair it.
- Always open your flue when burning a fire in your furnace or fireplace.
- Do not heat your home with a gas oven.
- Always operate grills in a well-ventilated outdoor area.
- When camping, use battery-operated heaters.
- Adjust all gas appliances properly, using an exhaust fan when appropriate.
- Understand which sound is your smoke detector and which is your CO detector.
- Contact your local fire department if you can’t afford a CO detector. Programs are in place to help low-income households and the elderly acquire these devices.
Where Do I Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors?
Smoke may rise in the air, but carbon monoxide spreads throughout your home evenly. You should place standalone carbon monoxide detectors, whenever possible, at knee and chest height. Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County strongly advises customers to put CO detectors at knee height because your head is at about that level when you’re asleep. We suggest installing CO detectors at chest height if there are children or pets in your home that might tamper with them. However, homeowners must always install combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at ceiling height so that they detect a fire’s earliest smoke signs. You should never hide CO and smoke detectors behind curtains or doors because doing so can reduce their functionality. Instead, be sure you place them in open areas.
Smoke Detector Installation for a Safe Home
Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County ensures you meet state and local laws by completing smoke detector installations in your home. These state and local laws mandate residents must install smoke detectors close to every bedroom in their houses, and homeowners may also need to have smoke detectors present in halls, garages, and stairways. New construction laws require you to hook up smoke detectors to your electrical wiring in a new home. These new-home smoke detectors must also include a battery backup system while interconnecting with each other. The National Fire Protection Association advises residents to replace old smoke detectors every 10 years. You need to change out your smoke detectors every 10 years because they have a lifespan limited to this time. After 10 years, your detectors aren’t any good. As these systems age, their electrical components lose their reliability. We can help you choose which smoke detectors fit your needs, such as the following:
- Ionization – This detector type has a continuous current running between electrodes. When smoke travels into a unit, it interrupts the current and sounds an alarm.
- Photoelectric – With this detector type, a unit responds to light reduction reaching an internal photocell. Smoke going into the unit scatters light and causes the alarm to sound.
Contact Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County
Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County proudly offers a broad range of residential electrical services for your system’s safety and reliability. We can help you with EV chargers, whole house surge protectors, landscape lighting, smoke detectors, and many other options. Our electricians have extensive training and experience to offer a diverse skill set, ensuring your home’s safety and comfort while earning your satisfaction. Contact us today to request a quote and schedule a carbon monoxide and smoke detector installation at your home.