Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially hazardous gas found in the home. Nicknamed the “silent killer,” CO gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, however it can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage or death. As a result, more than 400 people suffer fatal carbon monoxide exposure each year, a larger fatality rate compared to any other kind of poisoning.

As the weather gets colder, you seal your home for the winter and count on heating appliances to stay warm. This is where the risk of carbon monoxide inhalation is highest. The good news is you can defend your family from carbon monoxide in a variety of ways. One of the most successful methods is to put in CO detectors in your home. Check out this guide to better understand where carbon monoxide is produced 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 whenever a fuel source burns, such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Frequent 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 with a lit fire
  • Poorly vented gas or wood stove
  • Vehicle idling in the garage
  • Portable generator, grill, power tool or lawn equipment running in the garage

Do smoke detectors detect carbon monoxide?

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Alternatively, they sound an alarm when they detect a certain amount of smoke generated by a fire. Installing functional smoke detectors lowers the risk of dying in a house fire by around 55 percent.

Smoke detectors come in two main types—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection works best with fast-moving fires that emit large flames, while photoelectric models are more suited for smoldering, smoky fires. The newest smoke detectors come with both types of alarms in a solitary unit to maximize the chance of sensing a fire, despite how it burns.

Unmistakably, smoke detectors and CO alarms are both essential home safety devices. If you inspect the ceiling and notice an alarm of some kind, you won’t always realize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual discrepancy is determined by the brand and model you want. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:

  • Some devices are clearly 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 older than 10 years, replace it at the earliest opportunity.
  • Plug-in devices that use power with an outlet are generally 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 a separate indicator light for each. Still, it can be difficult to tell if there’s no label on the front, so 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 determined by your home’s size, the number of stories and the number of bedrooms. Use these guidelines to provide thorough coverage:

  • Install carbon monoxide detectors nearby wherever people sleep: CO gas exposure is most likely at night when furnaces must run more often to keep your home comfortable. As a result, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide detector installed within 15 feet of the door. If two bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, one detector is sufficient.
  • Install detectors on each floor: Dangerous carbon monoxide gas can become stuck 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 your internal garage door: A lot of people accidentally leave their cars idling in the garage, producing dangerous carbon monoxide gas, even while the large garage door is fully open. A CO alarm just inside the door—and in the room above the garage—alerts you of increased carbon monoxide levels within your home.
  • Have detectors at the correct height: Carbon monoxide features a weight similar to air, but it’s commonly carried along with the hot air released by combustion appliances. Having detectors near the ceiling is ideal to catch this rising air. Models that include digital readouts are best located at eye level to make them easier to read.
  • Put in detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: A few fuel-burning machines give off a tiny, non-toxic amount of carbon monoxide at startup. This breaks up quickly, but in situations where a CO detector is installed right next to it, it may give off false alarms.
  • Install detectors away from high heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have specified tolerances for heat and humidity. To reduce false alarms, avoid installing them in bathrooms, in strong sunlight, next to air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide alarm?

Depending on the model, the manufacturer will sometimes suggest testing once a month and resetting to maintain proper functionality. Also, change out the batteries in battery-powered units after 6 months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery every year or when the alarm is chirping, whichever starts first. Then, replace the CO detector outright every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm

You only need a minute to test your CO sensor. Read the instruction manual for directions unique to your unit, with the knowledge that testing uses this general procedure:

  • Press and hold the Test button. It might need 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to go off.
  • Loud beeping indicates the detector is working correctly.
  • Let go of the Test button and wait for two short beeps, a flash or both. If the device keeps beeping when you let go of the button, press and hold it again for five seconds to silence it.

Change the batteries if the unit fails to perform as expected for the test. If replacement batteries don’t help, replace the detector entirely.

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm

You’re only required to reset your unit after the alarm goes off, after a test or after swapping the batteries. A few models automatically reset themselves in 10 minutes of these events, while others need a manual reset. The instruction manual should note which function you should use.

Carry out 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 get a beep or observe a flash, try the reset again or replace the batteries. If nothing happens, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with support from the manufacturer, or replace the detector.

What do I do if a carbon monoxide alarm starts?

Use these steps to protect your home and family:

  • Do not dismiss the alarm. You won’t always be able to recognize hazardous levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so anticipate the alarm is functioning correctly when it starts.
  • Evacuate all people and pets as soon as possible. If possible, open windows and doors on your way out to help thin out the concentration of CO gas.
  • Call 911 or a local fire department and explain that the carbon monoxide alarm has started.
  • It’s wrong to think it’s safe to reenter your home when the alarm stops beeping. Opening windows and doors can help air it out, but the root cause might still be generating carbon monoxide.
  • When emergency responders come, they will enter your home, evaluate carbon monoxide levels, look for the source of the CO leak and establish if it’s safe to go back inside. Depending on the cause, you will sometimes need to arrange repair services to keep the problem from reappearing.

Seek Support from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

With the right 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, namely as winter arrives.

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