Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, poisonous gas that usually shows up in houses due to a gas leak somewhere. This highly combustible gas kills many people in their homes every year as the result of poisoning of the body or if there is a spark, with an explosion. These deaths could easily have been prevented, if the home owners had a properly installed carbon monoxide detector.

A carbon monoxide detector works in the same way as a smoke detector. It uses a special filtering system that detects the presence of carbon monoxide and issues a loud alarm indicating that the gas is present.
Home security experts recommend having a carbon monoxide detector in a home that uses natural gas. Even if a house does not have natural gas appliances, it is not a bad idea to have one because city gas lines nearby could leak into the home. It does not hurt to take extra precautions.

There are several different kinds of carbon monoxide detectors that can be installed in a home. The most common is battery operated and can be purchased in any hardware store. Like battery operated smoke alarms, the batteries should be changed at least two times a year to ensure the system will work properly when it is needed. Another version is a plug in model that can also be purchased in a hardware store. This version uses the home’s electrical outlet for its power supply and only relies on the battery for backup power. A third version is a hardwired detector, which like its smoke detector counterpart is hardwired into the house’s electrical circuitry. The benefit of this system is that it will work without a battery. The downsides are that it is more difficult and expensive to install and if the power should fail and there is not backup battery, the home will not be protected from carbon monoxide poisoning. The resident should make sure there is a battery backup capability before purchasing the system and should replace the batteries twice a year.

It is important to understand the properties of carbon monoxide when securing a home from this gas. Carbon monoxide is heavier than air, so unlike smoke, carbon monoxide will sink to the floor and accumulate upwards. Because of this, a carbon monoxide detector should be placed on the wall, near the floor, approximately the height of most electrical outlets. If it is placed on or near the ceiling, the residents will have to wait for the house to fill with carbon monoxide before the detector will find it and sound the alarm. By then it may be too late to escape. Also, it is important to leave the building when the alarm sounds, but opening a window and leaving the door ajar when exiting will help ventilate the gas, which can keep the residence from exploding.

Ultimately, getting a carbon monoxide detector can keep a family safe from this silent killer and should be a part of any home security system.