Carbon Monoxide Alarms Save Lives

CO alarms are required to be installed on every floor and within 10 feet of every sleeping room. There cannot be a flight of stairs or door between the alarm and the bedroom door. 

For best results placing them high on the wall or on the ceiling, because CO is a little lighter than air.

Place them away from gas appliances, to reduce false alarms.  

Place them away from humid areas, such as the kitchen and bathrooms. Avoid drafty areas, as well.

The best selling CO alarms in this area are First Alert and Kidde (pronounced “kid-a”.  The company was founded by Walter Kidde in 1917 in the United States. The founder was of Czech ancestry.)

Remember that CO/Smoke alarms don’t last forever. 

If they’re more than 7 years old, I recommend replacing them. Here’s a hint; fill in the date tag when you install them.

Low levels of CO will produce flu symptoms but may not trigger the alarm. Consider an alarm that indicates presence of low levels of CO as well as high.

The best one available at this writing is the 

Kidde KN-COSM-IBA

If the alarm had detected a CO level of 100ppm or higher when the Test/Reset button is pressed, the unit will announce “CARBON MONOXIDE PREVIOUSLY DETECTED” to warn of the CO incident. Your best defense against CO poisoning is to maintain all of your fuel-powered appliances, and keep your home properly ventilated.

You can learn more about CO safety by clicking HERE