Tis the Season to Replace Detectors Around Your Home

In wintertime, residential home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are of particular concern. Colder weather demands we turn on the heat, but our heating sources may be the cause of fires and poisoning. What's more, we introduce additional fire and CO hazards into our homes during holiday time, with candles, electric lights and extra cooking.Sound safety procedures that include well-maintained CO and smoke detectors are your first line of defense against fires and poison. But did you know your monitors need to be replaced now and then?Here's the lowdown on why you should replace detectors.

Detectors Have an Expiration Date

Your smoke and CO detectors, like everything else, have a lifespan. For CO detectors, it's five to seven years. For smoke detectors, it's 10 years.When it's time to replace your detectors, you should make sure you have enough of them to protect your home. Both types of detectors should go on every level of the home. Smoke alarms should go in every sleeping room, in the living room and near the stairway to an upper level. Smoke alarms should be mounted on the ceiling.Mount CO monitors from knee level to 5 feet from the floor, placing one on every level of the home. Place them in the living room/dining room, and in all bedrooms. Place them in any area where there is a fuel-burning appliance.

What Kind of Detectors?

Detectors may run on batteries, be plugged in or be wired into your home. Check batteries by testing the unit. Check wires for fraying or loose connections. It's a good idea to connect all your wired detectors so if one sounds off, they all sound off.When you replace your CO detectors, select replacements with digital readouts so you can tell what level of CO is being leaked. Also, look for one with an electro-chemical sensor. These are more sensitive than other models, and better able to detect CO leaks.

If you're planning to replace detectors in your Broken Arrow home, contact the experts at Air Assurance.

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). For more information about home safety and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

The Location Of Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Home Is Critical

Carbon monoxide detectors are becoming as commonplace in homes as smoke detectors, and for good reason. This odorless, colorless gas is just as dangerous at high levels as a fire, but carbon monoxide has no warning signs.Carbon monoxide poisoning leads to headaches, nausea and even death. The elderly, small children and pregnant women are especially at risk when exposed to even low levels of CO. That's why it is critical to have carbon monoxide detectors in your home.And the placement of your CO detectors, once you have them, is crucial. Experts agree that detectors should be located:

• On every floor of the home. If you live in a single-story home, consider placing detectors at each end of the home.

• At least 12 inches below ceilings but higher than eye level. Because CO rises, placing an electronic CO detector in an outlet near the floor, for example, wouldn't be effective.

• Away from fireplaces, fuel-burning appliances the garage and areas that produce heat (bathrooms or saunas).

• In or near bedrooms. Experts say that if you place only one CO detector in your home, put it in the master bedroom or as close to sleeping areas as possible so that you and your family can hear an alarm as soon as possible.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set 35 ppm (parts per million) as the high point for a safe carbon monoxide level. Anything higher becomes a health risk. Health problems occur quickly and there isn’t time for a carbon monoxide detector to fail. Many CO detectors sold at home improvement stores will sound an alarm at 40 ppm or higher, but low-level detectors purchased through an authorized dealer can begin to let you know of danger much sooner.One of the top detectors on the market is the NSI 3000. The unit detects CO levels that protect people in every category (from the elderly to healthy people). It operates using three alarm sounds: a low level for 15 ppm; a high level for 35 ppm; and a crisis level for 70 ppm and over. The 70 ppm alarm is loud and cannot be turned off.  This unit also has a digital display that starts reading at 5ppm to give you that extra sense of security.As serious as carbon monoxide poisoning is, you want carbon monoxide detectors that take this matter just as seriously. They could save your life. At Air Assurance, we carry CO detectors and we can give you expert advice on the installation and use of these critical tools. Call us today if we can answer any questions.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

How To Improve Your Home's Indoor Air Quality

Low indoor air quality can lead to a host of health problems, and is cited again and again as one of the top preventable threats to your good health. Indoor air contaminants include dust, mold and fungi, bacteria, viruses and even carbon monoxide, posing health risks that include everything from allergies and asthma to chronic respiratory problems. Undetected buildups of carbon monoxide can even be fatal. Making an effort to maintain good indoor air quality is essential to your health and the health of your family.One of the easiest and least expensive things you can do to improve your indoor air quality is to purchase a whole home air cleaner for your comfort system. This literally removes the contaminants out of your air and, when properly used, can greatly reduce the presence of microorganisms, contaminants, smoke, dust and other unhealthy particles.  Of course, sealing the duct system to ensure no other contaminants navigate into the system on a regular basis is also necessary for the ultimate in clean air.Carbon monoxide, the "silent killer," is extremely dangerous. With increasing awareness of the dangers it poses, carbon monoxide detectors are now seen as essential to home safety as smoke detectors. Mount your carbon monoxide detector in a high place, away from heat-generating appliances like furnaces and ovens, and away from humid areas like your bathroom or laundry room to ensure you get accurate readings.If you have an HVAC system, you should get it inspected, cleaned and serviced regularly to ensure it's circulating clean air and not blowing contaminants and particles into the rooms of your home. In some cases, poor HVAC system design or installation can lead to problems with indoor air quality, in which case a major redesign may be necessary to correct the issue and prevent major health problems.You should have your indoor air quality tested regularly by a qualified professional, who can also suggest causes for air contamination and offer solutions tailored to your specific situation. If you need to service, repair or redesign your HVAC system, be sure to find a local contractor with a good reputation for quality service and workmanship so you find a permanent solution to the problem.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Air Assurance services the Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas.  To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.