Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detector Services in Edmonton, AB

Protecting Local Families from Preventable Disasters

The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that 2,100 people die annually in the United States because of accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO poisoning has become that country’s leading poisoning death cause. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas, so it’s undetectable and deadly if you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector. However, you can easily avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by having a licensed electrician install a carbon monoxide detector to protect your loved ones. Additionally, federal, provincial, and local laws mandate that homeowners must have smoke detectors installed in their homes. Your family will be safe from domestic disasters like fires and poisoning by having Mr. Electric of Edmonton complete carbon monoxide and smoke detector installation and services in Edmonton and Sherwood Park, AB.

Mr. Electric electrician helping a customer

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Help You Avoid Poisoning

Have you installed protective detectors in your home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning? If a malfunctioning appliance leads to a carbon monoxide leak while you’re sleeping, you won’t wake up in time to escape this deadly gas without placing a carbon monoxide detector to alert you. Additionally, your family can succumb to CO poisoning in minutes, depending on how much carbon monoxide has spread in the air in your rooms. Carbon monoxide detectors alert you when there’s a poisoning risk by detecting elevated carbon monoxide levels and sounding an alarm. Not everyone knows what CO-poisoning symptoms are, so we’ve listed several of them to educate you. Symptoms can be like when you have the flu with no fever. We strongly advise you to seek help if you notice 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?

Various household appliances can be a source of carbon monoxide gas, such as furnaces, water heaters, wood or gas fireplaces, gas clothes dryers, and gas ranges or stoves. CO gas can originate from other sources around your home, including fuel-burning space heaters, gas or charcoal grills, and car exhaust. Running any of these appliances and home features when they have venting malfunction or in poorly ventilated areas can lead to rapid carbon monoxide buildup. CO can also build up in your home if you have a clogged chimney or a closed woodstove flue. Mr. Electric of Edmonton puts safety first and helps you prevent at-home carbon monoxide poisoning by recommending the following proven ways:

Install at least one CO detector on each of your home’s levels and outside each bedroom.
Replace your CO detector’s batteries every six-12 months.
Never run a generator, vehicle, or device featuring a fuel-fed motor in your home or garage.
Always turn off your vehicle when it’s parked inside your garage.
If you purchase gas equipment or appliances, invest in those with a seal of approval from the Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) or the American Gas Association.
Get your gas appliances inspected annually by a licensed appliance professional.
If you’re indoors or in an enclosed space, avoid using flameless chemical heaters.
Get repairs from a service expert if your gas appliance malfunctions.
When burning or lighting a fire in your fireplace or furnace, be sure to open the flue.
Never heat your home using a gas oven.
If you use a grill, always operate it in a well-ventilated outdoor area.
Use battery-operated heaters when you go camping.
Make proper adjustments to all gas appliances and use an exhaust fan when appropriate.
Understand the different sounds your smoke detector and CO detector make.
Contact your local fire department if a CO detector exceeds your price range. These professionals have programs in place to assist elderly and low-income households in acquiring these devices.

Where to Place Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke may rise in the air during a fire, but carbon monoxide spreads throughout your home evenly. When installing standalone carbon monoxide detectors, you should place them at chest and knee height whenever you can. Mr. Electric of Edmonton strongly suggests knee-height CO detectors since that's the height your head is typically at when you sleep. If your children or pets may play or tamper with your CO detectors, we advise you to place them at chest height. However, combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should always stay at ceiling height to detect smoke from a fire as early as possible. Hiding smoke and CO detectors behind doors or curtains can impact their ability to work properly, so you must place them in open areas.

Homes Are Safer With a Smoke Detector Installation

Mr. Electric of Edmonton ensures your home adheres to provincial and local laws by placing smoke detectors in the right places around your home. These laws mandate homeowners must place smoke detectors near all a home’s bedrooms, and they may also need to go in hallways, garages, and stairways. According to new construction laws, residents must hook up smoke detectors to their newly built home’s electrical wiring. Additionally, you also need battery backups and interconnectivity between these smoke detectors. The National Fire Protection Association in the United States advises households to replace old smoke detectors every 10 years. Smoke detectors have a limited lifespan of a decade and then don’t work as they should. As these systems age, their electrical components become unreliable. Our electrical experts can help you choose which smoke detectors match your fire protection needs, such as the following popular options:

Ionization – This detector type functions by running a continuous current between electrodes. Smoke interrupts your detector’s current and triggers an alarm as it travels into it.
Photoelectric – Your unit reacts to light reduction as it reaches an internal photocell in this detector type. An alarm sounds when smoke scatters lights as it goes into your unit.

Mr. Electric of Edmonton Covers Home Safety

Mr. Electric of Edmonton’s talented and experienced technicians cover a broad range of residential electrical needs, whether homeowners need EV chargers, whole house surge protectors, smoke detectors, or landscape lighting. Our electricians have years of comprehensive training and experience, ensuring they have a versatile skill set to benefit your electrical comfort, safety, and satisfaction. Contact us today to request a quote on the services you need and schedule a carbon monoxide and smoke detector installation at your home.