Carbon monoxide safety is extremely important for your family. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas that doesn’t give off a smell. You may never know that there is a carbon monoxide leak, and can quickly poison and kill the people in your home.<\/p>\n
We want to make sure that everyone is safe this year. Double- and triple-check that you have carbon monoxide detectors around the home that are working properly. Here’s our advice for homeowners everywhere.<\/p>\n
There is a test button on the front of your carbon monoxide detector that you can hold down to make sure the alarm is working. A loud alarm should sound, and you should make sure that it can be heard from across the home.<\/p>\n
However, you should keep in mind that this test does not verify that a carbon monoxide detector is still capable of detecting the poisonous gas in the air.<\/p>\n
In order to check to be sure that your CO detector really is working correctly, and is able to catch CO leaks quickly, ask a firefighter. Local fire stations have tools that will be able to safely test a CO detector for you.<\/p>\n
Your carbon monoxide detector will not last forever. There are two reasons to replace a CO detector. The first reason is if it is not working properly, either because the alarm is not sounding or because a firefighter determines the advice cannot detect CO.<\/p>\n
The second is if your carbon monoxide detector is over 5 to 7 years old. CO detectors only last 5 to 7 years. Older ones should be replaced as they may not work properly.<\/p>\n
You might qualify for a free CO detector or for free replacement batteries.<\/p>\n
Check with your local fire department. In some areas, programs exist to make sure that everyone has the protection they need. For example, in Colorado Springs, CSFD will replace single-unit smoke alarm batteries for senior and low-income individuals.<\/p>\n