Where should I put carbon monoxide and smoke detectors?
Where you legally need to have smoke detectors, according to National Laws:
Legally Required
1. Smoke Alarm on each story
2. In each sleeping area
3. In every twenty feet of hallways and rooms
4. Within ten feet of all bedroom doors
5. Wherever else your local laws require smoke protectors.
Good Ideas
- Every other room
- Your Kitchen*
- Your Garage*
*When the national laws were written, devices like our 3-in-1 sensor didn't exist. Kitchens and Garages are the most likely places for a fire to start, but they weren't legally required because traditional photoelectric-smoke-only detectors created so many false alarms from frying or searing food or starting your car in your garage that they didn't make sense to mandate. Nowadays, you can install this 3-in-1 sensor in your kitchen or garage (the most common places where fires start), set it to detect only temperature and heat, and live your life without having constant false alarms.
Disclaimer: The laws governing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can vary from state to state. Often, counties and cities pass specific, unique laws regarding them. Please make sure to contact your local government to confirm compliance with local laws.
Do's and Don'ts for Installing Smoke or Carbon Dioxide Detectors:
Do
Place the environmental sensor in a centrally located area that is free from obstructions.
Consult your local laws and regulations. Many counties and cities have their own specific rules about fire and carbon monoxide sensors.
Don't
Avoid putting them near a fan. The fan can pull the fumes from the sensor and make it so that it can't sense anything in the air.
Don't put them near a window you might open. A breeze with an open window can do the same.
Where Legally Required
Do
The national laws state that you need one within ten feet of every bedroom door and at least one every twenty-one feet.
Your local laws may specify that you need more detectors per foot of square footage.
When in doubt follow the most stringent law. This will make your insurance claim process easier should anything happen.
Don't
We can't tell you what your local laws are since they are all a little different, but don’t ignore your local laws. This can cause your insurance company to reject your claim if there is a fire or other home disaster.