Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most hazardous gases found in the home. Known as 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 die of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning each year, a larger fatality rate than any other type of poisoning. When the weather cools off, you insulate your home for the winter and rely on heating appliances to keep warm. This is when the danger of carbon monoxide inhalation is highest. Fortunately you can defend your family from a gas leak in different ways. One of the most efficient methods is to put in CO detectors in your home. Use this guide to help you understand where carbon monoxide can appear from and how to make the most of your CO sensors.

What causes carbon monoxide in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of something burned. Therefore, this gas is generated anytime a fuel source is burned, including natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Common causes of carbon monoxide in a house include:

• • Overloaded clothes dryer vent

• • Broken down water heater

• • Furnace or boiler with a cracked heat exchanger

• • Closed fireplace flue while a fire is lit

• • Improperly vented gas or wood stove

• • Vehicle running 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. Instead, they begin an alarm when they detect a certain amount of smoke produced by a fire. Having dependable smoke detectors decreases the risk of dying in a house fire by about 55 percent. Smoke detectors come in two main types—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection works best with fast-growing fires that produce large flames, while photoelectric models are more suited for smoldering, smoky fires. Some newer smoke detectors incorporate both forms of alarms in a solitary unit to increase the chance of responding to a fire, regardless of how it burns. Obviously, smoke detectors and CO alarms are similarly important home safety devices. If you look up at the ceiling and notice an alarm of some kind, you won’t always know whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual discrepancy depends on the brand and model you want. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

• • Most devices are visibly labeled. If not, look for a brand and model number on the back of the detector and find it online. You can also find a manufacture date. If the device is more than a decade old, replace it at the earliest opportunity.

• • Plug-in devices that extract power through an outlet are almost always carbon monoxide is supposed to be labeled so.

• • Some alarms are two-in-one, detecting both smoke and carbon monoxide with a separate indicator light for each. Still, it can be tough to tell if there’s no label on the front, so checking the manufacturing details on the back is smart.

How many carbon monoxide detectors do I need in my home?

The number of CO alarms you require is determined by your home’s size, number of floors and bedroom arrangement. Follow these guidelines to guarantee total coverage:

• • Install carbon monoxide detectors nearby wherever people sleep: CO gas poisoning is most common at night when furnaces must run more often to keep your home comfortable. Therefore, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide detector installed around 15 feet of the door. If two bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, just one detector is sufficient.

• • Install detectors on every floor: Dense carbon monoxide gas can become caught on a single floor of your home, so do your best to have at least one CO detector on all floors.

• • Put in detectors within 10 feet of the internal garage door: Many people end up leaving their cars running in the garage, leading to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, even if the large garage door is fully open. A CO alarm immediately inside the door—and in the room above the garage—alerts you of heightened carbon monoxide levels entering your home.

• • Have detectors at the appropriate height: Carbon monoxide is a similar density as air, but it’s commonly carried along with the hot air released by combustion appliances. Installing detectors up against 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.

• • Add detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: A few fuel-burning machines emit a tiny, harmless amount of carbon monoxide at startup. This dissipates quickly, but if a CO detector is positioned too close, it may give off false alarms.

• • Install detectors away from excess heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have certain tolerances for heat and humidity. To minimize false alarms, avoid installing them in bathrooms, in strong sunlight, near air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide sensor?

Depending on the specific unit, the manufacturer may encourage monthly tests and resetting to maintain proper functionality. Also, swap out the batteries in battery-powered units every six months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery once a year or when the alarm begins chirping, whichever happens first. Then, replace the CO detector entirely after 10 years or in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm

You only need a minute to test your CO alarm. Read the instruction manual for directions individual to your unit, understanding that testing uses this general process:

• • Press and hold the Test button. It will sometimes take 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to begin.

• • Loud beeping indicates the detector is functioning 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 quiet it.

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

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 changing the batteries. Certain models automatically reset themselves in 10 minutes of these events, while other models require a manual reset. The instruction manual will note which function is applicable. 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 hear a beep or see a flash, start the reset again or replace the batteries. If that doesn’t help either, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with support from the manufacturer, or install a new detector.

What do I do if a carbon monoxide alarm starts?

Use these steps to take care of 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 operating correctly when it starts.

• • Evacuate all people and pets immediately. If you can, open windows and doors on your way out to try and weaken the concentration of CO gas.

• • Call 911 or the local fire department and inform them that the carbon monoxide alarm has started.

• • Don’t assume it’s safe to reenter your home when the alarm is no longer beeping. Opening windows and doors may help air it out, but the source might still be producing carbon monoxide.

• • When emergency responders arrive, they will enter your home, evaluate carbon monoxide levels, look for the source of the CO leak and determine if it’s safe to return. Depending on the cause, you might need to request repair services to prevent the problem from reappearing.

Seek Support from A1 Chesney Service Experts

With the right precautions, there’s no need to fear carbon monoxide exposure in your home. In addition to installing CO alarms, it’s worthwhile to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, especially as winter gets underway. The team at A1 Chesney Service Experts is happy to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair malfunctions with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We understand what signs suggest a likely carbon monoxide leak— like increased 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 A1 Chesney Service Experts for more information.