02/17/2026
🏠 Keep Your Family Safe from the "Silent Killer" 🏠
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is odorless, colorless, and tasteless—making it impossible to detect without a working alarm. Is your home truly protected?
Check out these essential tips to ensure your CO monitors are ready to do their job:
📍 Proper Placement is Key
Where you put your alarm matters just as much as having one.
Every Level: Install a monitor on every floor of your home.
Near Bedrooms: Ensure an alarm is placed within 10–15 feet of every sleeping area so it’s loud enough to wake you up.
Watch the Height: Unlike smoke, CO mixes with the air. While "knee height" is often recommended to keep outlets free, we usually recommend about 5 feet off the ground or at least as high as your bedroom mattress.
Avoid the "Dead Zones": Keep monitors at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances (like stoves or furnaces) to avoid false alarms and stay away from drafty windows or humid bathrooms.
⚠️ The Dangers of Incorrect Placement
If a monitor is tucked behind a curtain, placed too close to a corner, or stuck in a stagnant crawl space, it may not "see" the gas until it’s too late.
Delayed detection = delayed reaction.
Proper placement gives you the precious minutes needed to evacuate safely.
⏳ When to Replace?
The 7-10 Year Rule: Most CO alarms have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. Even if it still "beeps" when you test it, the internal sensor degrades over time.
Check the Date: Look at the manufacture date on the back of your unit. If it’s over 7 years old, it’s time for an upgrade! Every alarm or monitor comes with an expiration date on it. Please pay attention to this and set a reminder!
Monthly Tests: Press the "test" button once a month to ensure the battery and siren are functional.
Pro-Tip: If your CO alarm sounds, never ignore it. Get everyone outside into fresh air immediately and THEN call 911 or your local fire department.
