What You Need to Know About Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors protect lives by alerting occupants to dangers that cannot always be seen or smelled. Fires and carbon monoxide exposure often happen without warning, especially at night. Proper detector placement and maintenance play a critical role in keeping homes safe.

What are smoke and carbon monoxide hazards?

Smoke dangers in the home

Smoke forms when carbon-based materials burn. It irritates the lungs and airways and can quickly overwhelm occupants. Smoke inhalation causes coughing, breathing difficulty, rapid heart rate, asthma attacks, and death. According to fire safety data, smoke inhalation remains the leading cause of death in residential fires.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that most fire-related deaths occur while people sleep:
https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety

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Carbon monoxide risks

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced when fuels burn. Unlike natural gas or propane, carbon monoxide has no warning smell. Low levels can cause headaches and nausea. Higher levels can cause confusion, loss of consciousness, and death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that CO exposure often comes from appliances, vehicles, and fuel-burning equipment: https://www.cdc.gov/carbonmonoxide

Why Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Matter

Common sources of carbon monoxide

• Vehicles in attached garages
• Water heaters and furnaces
• Stoves and ovens
• Blocked dryer vents
• Improperly vented HVAC systems

HVAC supply ducts connected to garages rank as a leading cause of carbon monoxide entering living spaces.

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Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors save lives

Smoke detectors reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than 50 percent when they work properly. Fire safety studies also show:

• Two-thirds of fire-related deaths occur at night
• Most fatal fires happen in homes without working smoke alarms

The U.S. Fire Administration provides national statistics and prevention guidance:
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/

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Placement and maintenance guidelines

Where detectors should be installed

Experts recommend:

• One smoke detector in every bedroom
• One detector outside sleeping areas
• At least one detector on every level of the home

Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed near sleeping areas and on each level of the home.

How to maintain detectors

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Do you need detectors?

Yes. Every home needs properly placed and maintained Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. Local fire departments may have additional placement recommendations based on home layout.