Carbon monoxide detectors are required to be installed within California single-family homes by July 1, 2011. 35 states have similar laws.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a odorless and invisible but can poison you quickly. Homes needed to be guarded against this deadly gas. CO can leak from fuel burning appliances, wood stoves, cars, fireplaces, leaking chimneys, heaters, etc. Carbon monoxide poisoning is more common during the winter season, when heaters are in use. Carbon Monoxide detectors must be installed outside every bedroom, on every level, and in basements.

Carbon Monoxide alarms should not be placed in garages, kitchens, too close to fuel-burning appliances, or very humid rooms.

Carbon Monoxide detectors have gotten more advanced.  New models like this Kidde unit have a digital display showing level of carbon monoxide the unit is sensing. Peak level memory displays the highest CO concentration measured since the last reset. This information is useful to rescue personnel treating victims. Advanced Carbon Monoxide detectors may have end-of-life warning alerts, digital displays, special lights for the hearing-impaired, or maybe interconnected throughout the whole house.

Smoke Alarms should have a combination of both ionization and photoelectric sensors.  Ionization alarms alone are too easily triggered with steam from showers for smoke from a stove. These combo units do not cost much more. Nearly 3,000 people die in home fires. A working smoke alarm can help lower this number.

Smoke Detector Battery change schedule

Be sure to change the battery whenever daylight savings time rolls around. Use a fresh set of batteries when you change them out. There have been far too many fires where batteries in smoke detectors were dead. This is unnecessary and results in a tragic ending. Almost 20% of American homes have at least 1 smoke alarm that does not work.