There are plenty of precautions that must be taken when buying a new home. Although you may think that everything is covered after a walk-through and a home inspection, there is one very important addition to your home that may end up saving lives. By installing carbon monoxide detectors in your new home, you can help protect yourself and your family from the terrible effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The dangers of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (also known as simply CO) is an odorless gas that, when inhaled, prevents the brain, heart and other organs from receiving oxygen. Because it has no scent, inhalation can easily go without notice and quickly cause harm to your body. Although there are ways to reverse carbon monoxide poisoning, permanent damage can be done to vital organs in just a small amount of time.
Knowing the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning is one thing, but knowing how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is another. There have been many instances where CO detectors weren’t present and lives were lost.
There is priceless value in having carbon monoxide detectors in a home. If you don’t feel comfortable installing them yourself, many security companies offer this service as well. Having a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home truly does have the ability to save lives. Any machine or appliance that burns natural gas, kerosene, oil, propane, coal or wood has the ability to produce carbon monoxide, particularly those with internal combustion engines. This means that the floors of your new home with garage entrances are particularly important. Having carbon monoxide detectors on these floors could help notify you if there is a large build-up of CO from your vehicle. Carbon monoxide poses a particularly high risk when it reaches dangerous levels in an enclosed space, such as a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, carbon monoxide can still threaten the safety of your family depending on temperature and air flow.
Reduce the risk
There are plenty of precautionary steps that you can take to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Use appliances that run on gas only as recommended in well-ventilated areas, and make sure that they remain in working order. Always make sure that your garage door is open before starting your vehicle, with the door to your home securely shut. And make sure that you invest in CO detectors if they aren’t already installed in your home. Just like a fire alarm, these detectors will sound if the gas levels in your home reach unsafe levels. You should check your CO detector batteries just as often as you check your smoke detector batteries, as well.
By doing these things, you can substantially increase your protection against carbon monoxide poisoning in your new or current home. Don’t take chances with carbon monoxide — protect yourself and your family from these dangers by investing in carbon monoxide detectors as soon as you move into a new home.
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