Every home should be fitted out with both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for peace of mind, should the worst ever happen. Should a fire start somewhere in the home, you’ll be alerted immediately, and can take steps to make your family safe and to safeguard your belongings.
When it comes to carbon monoxide, this odorless and invisible gas can be incredibly dangerous, and even fatal, as it can be filling your home without you even knowing it. This is why installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home is something you can’t skip. Here we take a look at some tips to get the most from your detectors.
Smoke Alarms
There are three types of smoke detector on the market at the moment –
- Ionization – Best for detecting fast flaming fires that tend to spread rapidly.
- Photoelectric – Best for detecting slow smoldering fires that can sometimes smolder for hours before erupting into flames.
- Combination – A combination of both of the above technologies, these are the best all-round detector for your home if you don’t want to buy separate ionization, and photoelectric alarms for throughout your house.
Smoke detection tips
There are various ways you can ensure you detect a house fire as rapidly as possible, these include-
- Ensuring your smoke alarm is well maintained at all times.
- Replacing batteries on a regular basis.
- Pressing the ‘test’ button on the alarm at least once a month.
- Replacing detectors that are over five years’ old.
- Installing a detector on each level of your house, including the basement, and in rooms where the doors tend to be closed on a regular basis.
In addition to the above, it’s imperative to –
- Have a fire extinguisher at home, and to know how to use it.
- Draw up, and practice, a fire escape plan with your family.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
This odorless, colorless, and tasteless poisonous gas is produces when fuels don’t receive enough air to burn up entirely. If you have blocked or damaged venting in your heating system, CO can build up in your home, and this is incredibly dangerous.
CO detection tips
There are lots of ways you can ensure you, and your loved ones aren’t exposed to this deadly gas, these include –
- Installing a CO detector, and maintaining it regularly.
- Changing your CO detector batteries regularly.
- Ensuring your fuel burning appliances, venting, and equipment are well maintained, so CO emissions can be eliminated at source.
- Being aware of the symptoms of CO poisoning – drowsiness, confusion, burning eyes, headache, and nausea.
In addition to the above tips, it’s important to always ensure you have adequate homeowners insurance in the event of a fire. That way, you can make sure that if the worst happens, you are one step ahead, and can deal with the situation quickly, in order to protect your family, pets, and home.
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