Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector Installation

Protect You and Your Family from Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide detectors can be the best life-saving investment you will ever make for your family. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, in the United States alone, 2,100 people die every year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning… Of all potential poisoning death causes in the US, carbon monoxide poisoning is number one. Because it lacks color, taste, and odor, It is among the most dangerous home issues. And most importantly, it is 100% preventable.

It is imperative to protect your home from this deadly gaseous death. Installing reputable carbon monoxide detectors can be the literal difference between life and death. If undetected, this leaking gas can kill an entire family in a matter of hours, or in some cases, minutes.
Carbon monoxide can be released by some of the most common systems within a home. Items like a gas range, stove, gas clothes dryer, water heater, furnace, gas or wood fireplace, space heaters, car exhaust, charcoal grills, and clogged chimneys or flues can cause this gas to be emitted into your home.

Here are a few ways to prevent this from happening:

Install a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home and outside of each bedroom.
Change the batteries in your detectors every six months, when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors.
Look for “Underwriters’ Laboratories” or the “American Gas Association” seal of approval on any gas equipment you purchase.
Check gas appliances annually.
Avoid flameless chemical heaters indoors or in enclosed spaces.
Hire a service expert to repair any gas appliance as needed.
Open the flue when enjoying a fire in the fireplace or using your furnace.
Do not use a gas oven to heat your home.
Do not use a generator, vehicle, or other fueled motors indoors.
Do not use grills indoors.
Use battery powered heaters when camping.
Keep your gas appliances properly adjusted, using exhaust fans when needed.
Learn the distinct sound of your carbon monoxide alarm versus your smoke detector’s alarm.
Contact the local fire department to find out about programs to help the elderly or poor purchase carbon monoxide detectors for the home.

Maintain Smoke Detectors to Avoid Risk

While carbon monoxide detectors are recommended, smoke detectors are mandatory. This one little device can save the life of your entire family in a matter of seconds. Smoke detectors provide early warning to help prevent fire fatalities.

The National Fire Protection Agency recommends your fire detectors be replaced every five years to assist with maintaining the reliability of all of the components. There are two different types of smoke detectors: ionization and photoelectric. Know the difference before choosing the best option for your home.

Ionization has a continuous current running between two electrodes. The current is interrupted when smoke is detected. The problem with this type of system is that the detector cannot determine the difference between smoke and steam. This system is typically the least expensive of the two as it is a bit more simplistic in its technology.

Photoelectric detectors work by responding to a reduction in light reaching an internal photocell. When smoke enters the system, the light is scattered, triggering the alarm. These are more precise and less likely to trigger a false alarm. However, they will not warn you when the batteries are low or dying.

CME Electric has been installing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the Eastern, Central New Jersey area for the past 25 years. The expert technicians are happy to advise you on the best unit for your home and help you maintain a schedule for maintenance and battery replacement. Contact us today to start the process of keeping your family safe for years to come.