Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Every home is required to have working smoke alarms and most are also required to have carbon monoxide alarms. Learn what kind you need to have and where they should be placed in your homes.
Protect Your Home and Family with Smoke Alarms
- Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside bedrooms, at the top of open stairs and at the base of cellar stairs.
- Maintain smoke alarms. Test them once a month.
- If the alarm uses regular batteries, change them at least once a year. An easy way to remember is to change the batteries when you change your clocks. A “chirping” sound indicates that it’s time to change
the batteries. - Smoke alarms must be replaced every 10 years. Alarms are labeled with their date of manufacture. If there is no label, they are older than 10 years and must be replaced
Additional Resources for
Protect Your Home and Family with Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- The law requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed on every level of your home, including habitable portions of basements and attics, in most residences.
- On levels with sleeping areas, carbon monoxide alarms should be installed within 10 feet of bedroom doors.
- When purchasing a carbon monoxide alarm, be sure to look for the approval label of an independent testing company, such as Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), International Approval Service (IAS), or Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Most carbon monoxide alarms that are sold in the Commonwealth meet these standards, but it’s a good idea to check before buying.
- Carbon monoxide alarms may be
- Battery operated with battery monitoring
- Plug-ins with battery back-up
- Low voltage systems
- Wireless
- Qualified combination
- Replace carbon monoxide alarms every 5 to 7 years, depending on the make and model.
- Newer CO alarms have a 10-year sealed battery that does not need changing. At 10 years, the entire device is replaced.
- If you have a plug-in model, be aware that the battery will run down during an extended power outage and may need to be replaced.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety
CO is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S. Hundreds of people die accidentally each year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Learn to protect your family from CO. Carbon monoxide gas is produced whenever any fuel (gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal) is burned.
Knowing the signs of CO poisoning can keep your family safe
Carbon monoxide is poisonous, odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
Exposure to carbon monoxide can produce headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, fainting, unconsciousness, and death. CO poisoning can also mimic flu symptoms.
If you suspect CO exposure:
- Get out of the house or car and get fresh air.
- Call the fire department from a cell phone or a neighbor’s house.
- If you have symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
Additional Resources for
Sources of CO
Heating is the leading cause of CO in homes. Here are other sources of CO:
- Furnaces and water heaters
- Chimneys and woodstoves
- Gas and oil fueled space heaters
- Blocked furnace and dryer vents
- Car tailpipes blocked by snow
- Generators
- Running vehicles
- Barbeque grills and camping stoves
- Gas ovens used for heat
- Gas tools such as snow removal and yard equipment
Additional Resources for
CO appliance safety
If appliances that burn fuel are properly maintained and used, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions that come with fuel-burning devices. If appliances are broken or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result.
- Have a qualified service technician inspect appliances yearly, before the heating season.
- Check vent pipes, flues and chimneys for leaks or blockages.
- Unvented kerosene heaters are illegal in MA.
- Never use a charcoal grill indoors.
- Do not use a gas oven to heat your home.
- Don’t leave a vehicle running inside a garage, even if the door is open. Fumes will build up quickly inside the home.
- Snow can block car tailpipes outdoors.
- Never use gasoline-powered engines (generators, chain saws, blowers, weed trimmers, mowers or snow blowers) indoors or near doors or windows.
Leave A Comment