Each year, approximately 200 people are killed from carbon monoxide poisoning. There are thousands of injuries suffered as well. For this reason, everyone should have carbon monoxide detectors in their home.There are two different types of carbon monoxide detectors available for home use. One type of carbon monoxide detector is powered by your home current. These types of detectors are simply plugged into a household wall socket. Other types of carbon monoxide detectors are powered by batteries. Either type of detector should be tested often to ensure that they are working properly. Carbon monoxide detectors that run on batteries will need to have their batteries changed a couple of times each year.A carbon monoxide detector that plugs in to a wall socket is comparable in price to the unit that runs on batteries. The home-powered detectors require less upkeep and will be effective for up to 5 years. The downside, is that they don't work when there is no power. Often, this is when they are best utilized, when the power is out, and people are using generators, fireplaces, or other appliances to get heat.A carbon monoxide detector that runs on batteries is able to be more conveniently located, as it is an independent unit. They do not give up-to-date information as frequently as the home-powered detector. These types of detectors generally require a manual reset. However, when the power is out, they are ready for the challenge.Many "store-bought" detectors are better than no detector at all. However, most of them do not alert you of high levels of CO until 70 PPM after 30-45 minutes of contamination. This is an acceptable range, however, many children and seniors can't accept these levels of CO for that long without strong affects.Then, there are "advanced" detectors. These are more of an investment up front, but can detect much lower levels of CO, and even have displays that read the actual PPM levels, so that you can always be sure if you have a potential problem or not, before it gets to an emergency level.Remember, the sensors that detect CO can only be good for so long. Read your owner's manuals to see when they recommend you to change the detectors. Some sensors are only recommended to remain in use for 3 years to remain accurate.When choosing which carbon monoxide detector is best for your home you will want to be sure that they are approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You will also want to be sure that you buy a detector for every level of your home.Air Assurance can assist you in your decision on which type of carbon monoxide detector to use, as well as where to place them in your home. Serving Broken Arrow and the Tulsa area, we are here when you need us. For more information and expert advice, contact us today!Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock