Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a common risk found in the home. Dubbed the “silent killer,” CO gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, however it can result in unconsciousness, brain damage or death. Because of this, more than 400 people suffer fatal carbon monoxide influence each year, a larger fatality rate than other types of poisoning.

While the weather gets colder, you insulate your home for the winter and count on heating appliances to remain warm. This is when the threat of carbon monoxide inhalation is highest. Thankfully you can defend your family from a gas leak in several ways. One of the most effective methods is to add CO detectors around your home. Check out this guide to help you understand where carbon monoxide can appear from and how to reap the benefits of your CO detectors.

What produces carbon monoxide in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct whenever something combusts. As a result, this gas can appear whenever a fuel source burns, such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Frequent causes of carbon monoxide in a house consist of:

  • Clogged clothes dryer vent
  • Broken down water heater
  • Furnace or boiler with a damaged heat exchanger
  • Closed fireplace flue with a lit fire
  • Poorly vented gas or wood stove
  • Vehicle sitting in the garage
  • Portable generator, grill, power tool or lawn equipment operating in the garage

Do smoke detectors recognize carbon monoxide?

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. In fact, they sound an alarm when they recognize a certain level of smoke produced by a fire. Possessing reliable smoke detectors reduces the risk of dying in a house fire by nearly 55 percent.

Smoke detectors are available in two basic forms—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection functions well with fast-moving fires that produce large flames, while photoelectric models are more effective with smoldering, smoky fires. Some newer smoke detectors include both kinds of alarms in a solitary unit to maximize the chance of sensing a fire, despite how it burns.

Clearly, smoke detectors and CO alarms are equally essential home safety devices. If you inspect the ceiling and see an alarm of some kind, you might not recognize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual contrast depends on the brand and model you prefer. Here are several factors to remember:

  • Quality devices are visibly labeled. If not, look for a brand and model number on the back of the detector and find it online. You will also find a manufacture date. If the device is more than 10 years old, replace it as soon as possible.
  • Plug-in devices that use power through an outlet are generally carbon monoxide sensors be labeled so.
  • Some alarms are two-in-one, sensing both smoke and carbon monoxide with a different indicator light for each. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to tell without a label on the front, so double checking the manufacturing details on the back is worthwhile.

How many carbon monoxide detectors should I install in my home?

The number of CO alarms you need is dependent on your home’s size, number of floors and bedroom arrangement. Consider these guidelines to guarantee thorough coverage:

  • Place carbon monoxide detectors near wherever people sleep: CO gas leaks are most likely at night when furnaces are running more often to keep your home warm. As a result, each bedroom should have a carbon monoxide detector installed about 15 feet of the door. If a couple of bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, a single alarm is enough.
  • Add detectors on every floor: Dense carbon monoxide buildup can become caught on a single floor of your home, so do your best to have at least one CO detector on every level.
  • Put in detectors within 10 feet of an attached garage door: Many people unsafely leave their cars idling in the garage, producing dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, even if the large garage door is completely open. A CO alarm right inside the door—and in the room above the garage—alerts you of elevated carbon monoxide levels inside your home.
  • Install detectors at the appropriate height: Carbon monoxide weighs about the same as air, but it’s frequently pushed up by the hot air released by combustion appliances. Installing detectors close to the ceiling is a good way to catch this rising air. Models that come with digital readouts are best placed at eye level to keep them easy to read.
  • Install detectors about 15 feet from combustion appliances: Some fuel-burning machines give off a tiny, harmless amount of carbon monoxide at startup. This breaks up quickly, but if a CO detector is installed right next to it, it may trigger false alarms.
  • Put in detectors away from high heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have specific tolerances for heat and humidity. To limit false alarms, avoid installing them in bathrooms, in direct sunlight, around air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide sensor?

Depending on the design, the manufacturer may recommend testing once a month and resetting to ensure proper functionality. Also, replace the batteries in battery-powered units twice a year. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery once a year or when the alarm starts chirping, whichever starts first. Then, replace the CO detector completely every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm

All it takes is a minute to test your CO alarm. Review the instruction manual for directions unique to your unit, with the knowledge that testing follows this general process:

  • Press and hold the Test button. It may need 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to start.
  • Loud beeping means the detector is operating correctly.
  • Release the Test button and wait for two quick beeps, a flash or both. If the device keeps beeping when you release the button, press and hold it again for five seconds to stop it.

Swap out the batteries if the unit isn’t performing as expected for the test. If replacement batteries don’t change anything, replace the detector entirely.

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm

You only need to reset your unit once the alarm goes off, after a test or after swapping the batteries. Some models automatically reset themselves in 10 minutes of these events, while other models need a manual reset. The instruction manual will note which function is applicable.

Follow these steps to reset your CO detector manually:

  • Press and hold the Reset button for 5 to 10 seconds.
  • Release the button and wait for a beep, a flash or both.

If you don’t hear a beep or see a flash, try the reset again or replace the batteries. If nothing happens, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with help from the manufacturer, or install a new detector.

What should I do if a carbon monoxide alarm starts?

Listen to these steps to safeguard your home and family:

  • Do not disregard the alarm. You won’t always be able to recognize unsafe levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so anticipate the alarm is working correctly when it goes off.
  • Evacuate all people and pets immediately. If possible, open windows and doors on your way out to attempt to thin out the concentration of CO gas.
  • Call 911 or your local fire department and inform them that the carbon monoxide alarm has started.
  • It’s wrong to think it’s safe to reenter your home when the alarm is no longer beeping. Opening windows and doors might help air it out, but the source could still be generating carbon monoxide.
  • When emergency responders arrive, they will go into your home, measure carbon monoxide levels, look for the source of the CO leak and figure out if it’s safe to return. Depending on the cause, you might need to schedule repair services to keep the problem from returning.

Find Support from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

With the proper precautions, there’s no need to fear carbon monoxide inhalation in your home. Besides installing CO alarms, it’s worthwhile to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, particularly as winter gets underway.

The team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is qualified to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair issues with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We recognize which signs suggest a possible carbon monoxide leak— such as increased soot, rusted flue pipes and a yellow, flickering burner flame—along with the necessary repairs to resolve them.

Do you still have questions or concerns about CO exposure? Is it time to schedule annual heating services? Contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for more information.

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