Now that you know where carbon monoxide comes from, let's discuss how to set
up detectors to keep your family safe. There is a plethora of carbon monoxide
detectors on the market, including some that can be hooked up to a central alarm
system that may either be entirely in your home or may be connected to an
outside monitoring company. Another common type of carbon monoxide detectors are
battery powered and resemble battery-powered smoke detectors,but they are not
the same and should not be located in the same places.
The first thing you need to consider when placing a detector is whether or
not you wish to connect it to your house's wiring system. While it may seem
easier and cheaper to do that, you may be limited as to where you can place the
monitors, since you need to have an electrical wire nearby to hook the detector
into. This may prove to be a problem in some areas where there may be no power
source available, such as a garage or basement. But these monitors do tend to
last up to ten years, depending on the model, and require no maintenance.
Battery-powered detectors, on the other hand, need their batteries replaced and
their sensors checked annually. In the end it will depend on how your home is
arranged and how capable you are with installing new appliances.
An alternative is to hire an alarm company to install detectors for you as
part of their security package. You are already paying a monthly monitoring fee.
Let's say you have little faith in your ability to hotwire detectors—or you
live in an apartment building or rented home and are not allowed to install new
electrical connections—and wish to go the battery-operated route, where do you
start to look for quality monitors?
The first and best place is your local fire department. Phone or visit your
station and discuss what models and brands they approve of as well as what
concerns they would have about installing these detectors in your home. Since
they will be the first responders on the scene in an emergency, consider them a
reliable source for finding a high-quality carbon monoxide detector for your
family. Such magazines as Consumer Reports and government agencies like
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offer advice and recommended models
and brands as well. Don't just buy the cheapest one on the market because it
looks pretty!