Whether you want to believe it or not, winter is almost here. If you are a homeowner that means preparing for snow, ice, and bitter cold temperatures. When we are doing things like weatherstripping our home to keep cold air out, we sometimes fail to realize that we are trapping air and other things in. God forbid, if there is a fire, that means smoke is trapped in. Fall is a great time of year to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are functioning properly. If your house has oil or gas burning appliances such as a furnace and it malfunctions, that means carbon monoxide getting trapped in. Once more a reminder to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas and is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning—causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate.
There is no excuse to not have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. In fact some states are now requiring both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in engineering approvals. They are cheap, easy to install, and extremely inexpensive considering the fact they can save your life. Click here to view a variety of types of detectors.
Schedule some time to check ALL of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. And if you do not have one or either in your home, buy and install a carbon monoxide detector if you haven’t already. Schedule the time, and make it be non-negotiable. It’s that important! Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can save your life.
