Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially hazardous gas found in the home. Dubbed the “silent killer,” CO gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, yet it can cause unconsciousness, brain damage or death. As a result, more than 400 people suffer fatal carbon monoxide influence each year, a higher fatality rate versus any other type of poisoning.

While the weather gets colder, you seal your home for the winter and rely on heating appliances to remain warm. This is when the danger of carbon monoxide exposure is highest. Thankfully you can defend your family from a gas leak in different ways. One of the most effective methods is to install CO detectors in your home. Try this guide to better understand where carbon monoxide comes from and how to take full advantage of your CO alarms.

What generates carbon monoxide in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of something burned. Because of this, this gas can appear anytime a fuel source burns, such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Common causes of carbon monoxide in a house may be:

  • Clogged clothes dryer vent
  • Malfunctioning water heater
  • Furnace or boiler with a broken heat exchanger
  • Closed fireplace flue during an active fire
  • Improperly vented gas or wood stove
  • Vehicle idling 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 begin an alarm when they recognize a certain level of smoke produced by a fire. Possessing dependable smoke detectors reduces the risk of dying in a house fire by around 55 percent.

Smoke detectors come in two main modes—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection functions well with fast-moving fires that emit large flames, while photoelectric detectors are more applicable for smoldering, smoky fires. Some newer smoke detectors come with both kinds of alarms in a solitary unit to increase the chance of sensing a fire, no matter how it burns.

Obviously, smoke detectors and CO alarms are similarly essential home safety devices. If you check the ceiling and find an alarm of some kind, you may not recognize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual contrast depends on the brand and model you have. Here are several factors to remember:

  • Quality devices are properly labeled. If not, look for a brand and model number on the back of the detector and look it up online. You should also find a manufacture date. If the device is more than 10 years old, replace it right away.
  • Plug-in devices that use power with an outlet are typically carbon monoxide alarms]]94. The device {should be labeled so.
  • Some alarms will be two-in-one, offering protection against both smoke and carbon monoxide with an indicator light for each. Nevertheless, it can be hard to tell with no label on the front, so checking the manufacturing details on the back is your best bet.

How many carbon monoxide detectors will I want in my home?

The number of CO alarms you require is determined by your home’s size, how many floors it has and the number of bedrooms. Consider these guidelines to provide total coverage:

  • Install carbon monoxide detectors around bedrooms: CO gas poisoning is most common at night when furnaces must run constantly to keep your home warm. Therefore, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed within 15 feet of the door. If two bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, one detector is sufficient.
  • Add detectors on every floor: Dense carbon monoxide buildup can become trapped on a single floor of your home, so make sure you have at least one CO detector on each floor.
  • Install detectors within 10 feet of your internal garage door: A lot of people accidentally leave their cars idling in the garage, producing dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, even when the large garage door is wide open. A CO alarm immediately inside the door—and in the room up above the garage—alerts you of heightened carbon monoxide levels inside your home.
  • Put in detectors at the appropriate height: Carbon monoxide is a similar density as air, but it’s commonly carried along with the hot air created by combustion appliances. Installing detectors near the ceiling is best to catch this rising air. Models that include digital readouts are best located at eye level to make sure they’re easy to read.
  • Install detectors about 15 feet from combustion appliances: A few fuel-burning machines give off a small, harmless amount of carbon monoxide when they start. This dissipates quickly, but when a CO detector is installed right next to it, it might lead to false alarms.
  • Put in detectors away from high heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have certain tolerances for heat and humidity. To minimize false alarms, try not to install them in bathrooms, in direct sunlight, next to air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide detector?

Depending on the model, the manufacturer might recommend monthly tests and resetting to sustain proper functionality. Also, change out the batteries in battery-powered units after 6 months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery once a year or when the alarm is chirping, whichever comes first. Then, replace the CO detector outright after 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm

It only takes a minute to test your CO detector. Review the instruction manual for directions specific to your unit, understanding that testing practices this general procedure:

  • Press and hold the Test button. It might need 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to go off.
  • Loud beeping means the detector is operating correctly.
  • Let go of the Test button and wait for two fast 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.

Change the batteries if the unit won’t work as expected during the test. If replacement batteries don’t help, replace the detector immediately.

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm

You’re only required to reset your unit once the alarm goes off, after a test or after replacing the batteries. A few models automatically reset themselves within 10 minutes of these events, while other alarms 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 listen for a beep, a flash or both.

If you don’t notice a beep or observe a flash, try the reset again or replace the batteries. If that doesn’t help either, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with assistance from the manufacturer, or replace the detector.

What do I do if a carbon monoxide alarm goes off?

Use these steps to protect your home and family:

  • Do not disregard the alarm. You might not be able to recognize dangerous levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so anticipate the alarm is functioning correctly when it is triggered.
  • Evacuate all people and pets as quickly as possible. If you can, open windows and doors on your way out to attempt to weaken the concentration of CO gas.
  • Call 911 or a local fire department and explain that the carbon monoxide alarm has triggered.
  • Do not assume it’s safe to reenter your home when the alarm stops beeping. Opening windows and doors may help air it out, but the source might still be generating carbon monoxide.
  • When emergency responders show up, they will enter your home, evaluate carbon monoxide levels, check for the source of the CO leak and establish if it’s safe to come back inside. Depending on the cause, you may need to arrange repair services to prevent the problem from reappearing.

Seek Support from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

With the proper precautions, there’s no need to be afraid of carbon monoxide inhalation in your home. Besides installing CO alarms, it’s crucial to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, especially as winter starts.

The team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is qualified to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair malfunctions with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We know what signs suggest a likely carbon monoxide leak— including excess soot, rusted flue pipes and a yellow, flickering burner flame—along with the necessary repairs to prevent 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.