Properly installing carbon monoxide (CO) detectors around your home or business is essential for keeping you and others safe from toxic gas. That’s why you need to understand factors such as ideal placement and upkeep to ensure you can use these monitors effectively. Look below to discover the dos and don’ts of installing carbon monoxide detectors.

Do Place Them High Up

CO is lighter than air, so it will rise and build up near the top of your ceiling or infrastructure. That’s why you should place detectors high up on a wall or the ceiling to get the most accurate monitoring of leaks. You should check your detectors at least once a month, so try to set them in spots where you can easily see them. This will help remind you to look at them periodically.

Don’t Put Them Near Humid Locations

Excess humidity can impair the performance and operation of your detectors. Keep them away from areas like your kitchen or bathroom to prevent steamy conditions from interfering with their accuracy.

Do Try and Set Them Up in Multiple Spots

Preferably, you should install your CO detectors throughout your home. However, you should begin with your master bedroom and other sleeping rooms first, especially if you only have one or two of them. Furthermore, attempt to have at least one detector on each floor of your home.

Don’t Install Near Fuel-Burning Appliances

Maintain a 15-foot minimum distance between detectors, any gas-burning appliance or fireplace, and the connecting door from the house to an attached garage. Tiny amounts of CO may sometimes gather in these places, which could cause false alarms.

Do Avoid Open Windows and Doors

Avoid placement near any windows or doors you might open while you grill or use a gas mower on your lawn. Both activities can produce significant volumes of CO and trigger a false alarm. Additionally, avoid any places exposed to direct sunlight.

Don’t Place Near Drafty Locations

Don’t install detectors near an open window, fan, vent, or any other location where there could be a strong draft. This is especially important in parking garages that use a vent system to remove CO from cars inside, as they could trigger false positives.

Knowing the dos and don’ts of installing carbon monoxide detectors helps every inhabitant in your home or business protect themselves from deadly CO gas. TG Technical Services offers high-quality carbon monoxide sensors for parking garages to keep occupants safe from harm. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.