Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detector Installation

As the seasons grow colder, homeowners turn on their furnaces and heaters and close their windows. While common, without a properly maintained heating system and a carbon monoxide sensor, you’re leaving your family open to dangerous conditions. Closed air systems and furnace usage after a long period of inactivity could increase carbon monoxide levels (and smoke) to rise in your home.

Each year, more than 300 Canadians die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning; 200 more are hospitalized. Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless, and tasteless. In fact, without a properly installed carbon monoxide detector in place, you may never even realize you’ve been exposed. If you haven’t already had these detectors installed in your home, it’s high time to take action.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a gas found in the fumes produced when you burn fuel. Furnaces, gas ranges, fireplaces, stoves, lanterns, grills, and small engines can all emit carbon monoxide as they use fuel. When carbon monoxide builds up indoors, it can sicken people and pets. Most of the time, you’ll never even realize you’re breathing it in—unless you’ve got a carbon monoxide detector, that is.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home, prioritize maintenance. Clean your stoves and ovens often, clear your flue, and have your heating system inspected before the winter comes. Inspecting your heating system before it gets cold will ensure that you’ll have time to order necessary repairs before you need them, thoroughly preparing you for the winter. Doing a robust maintenance check of your furnace, boiler, or heating system every autumn is a reliable, cost-effective way to make sure you and your family are safe from carbon monoxide. Not only does it repair any issues before they become major problems, but also it helps extend the life of your heater. Investing in annual maintenance ensures you’re not spending a fortune on heating bills every winter.

Why Carbon Monoxide Detectors Matter

Carbon monoxide is commonly considered the silent killer. Because it’s invisible to the human eye and impossible to smell or taste, it can lurk unnoticed until it’s too late. Those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning may experience dizziness, headaches, nausea, sleepiness, and light-headedness. Unfortunately, many people mistake these ailments for cold or flu symptoms. While carbon monoxide can be dissipated by opening windows and allowing fresh air inside, few poisoning victims realize they’ve been exposed until after being hospitalized.

Carbon monoxide detectors can alert people that poisonous gas is leaking into the home. They work quickly and effectively to sound the alarm that windows should be opened and the premises should be vacated until the source of the leak has been resolved. Homes are legally required to install carbon monoxide detectors in many Canadian jurisdictions. Just like a smoke detector, these powerful tools can save lives.

Best Location to Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Curious about where to install carbon monoxide detectors in your home? It helps to understand that carbon monoxide is lighter than air. It also tends to rise with warm air, which is why it’s recommended that you install detectors at about eye level. There should be one on each floor, outside of bedrooms, inside attached garages, and at least 4.5 metres from gas-burning appliances such as fireplaces and stoves.

Once the carbon monoxide detector installation process is complete, remember to change the batteries every few months. It’s easy to neglect these tools since they will rarely, if ever, sound. Still, they play an important role in keeping residents safe and healthy. If you fail to change the batteries, you may pay the price later. Of course, if you need help installing or maintaining carbon monoxide detectors, there are experts available to assist.

Choose Aire Serv for Carbon Monoxide Detector Installation and Replacement

Wondering who can install carbon monoxide detectors? Aire Serv is the answer. Our team of experts can find the right detector for your home and install it immediately. We’ll even teach you how to change your system's batteries. It’s important to act quickly, though. Carbon monoxide is a real threat to human safety. Even if you’re not sure you really need a carbon monoxide detector, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Schedule your appointment online or call us today!