Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

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

As the weather cools off, you seal your home for the winter and count on heating appliances to keep warm. This is when the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning is highest. Thankfully you can defend your family from a gas leak in several ways. One of the most efficient methods is to put in CO detectors around your home. Try this guide to help you 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. Therefore, this gas is generated anytime a fuel source is ignited, such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Common causes of carbon monoxide in a house may be:

  • Blocked up clothes dryer vent
  • Malfunctioning water heater
  • Furnace or boiler with a cracked heat exchanger
  • Closed fireplace flue with a lit fire
  • Improperly 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 detect carbon monoxide?

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Instead, they sound an alarm when they sense a certain amount of smoke generated by a fire. Possessing dependable smoke detectors reduces the risk of dying in a house fire by nearly 55 percent.

Smoke detectors come in two basic modes—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection functions well with quick-moving fires that emit large flames, while photoelectric detectors are more suited for smoldering, smoky fires. A few smoke detectors come with both kinds of alarms in a single unit to increase the chance of responding to a fire, despite how it burns.

Unmistakably, smoke detectors and CO alarms are similarly important home safety devices. If you inspect the ceiling and notice an alarm of some kind, you may not recognize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual discrepancy depends on the brand and model you prefer. Here are a few factors to consider:

  • Quality devices are visibly labeled. If not, check 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 older than 10 years, replace it at the earliest opportunity.
  • Plug-in devices that draw power through an outlet are typically carbon monoxide alarms]]94. The device {should be labeled saying as much.
  • Some alarms are two-in-one, detecting both smoke and carbon monoxide with a different indicator light for each. Nevertheless, it can be tough to tell without a label on the front, so double 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 depends on your home’s size, how many floors it has and the number of bedrooms. Use these guidelines to ensure thorough coverage:

  • Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas: CO gas poisoning is most prevalent at night when furnaces are running more often to keep your home heated. As a result, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide detector installed around 15 feet of the door. If a couple of bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, just one detector is adequate.
  • Put in detectors on all floors: Dense carbon monoxide gas can become caught on a single floor of your home, so make sure you have at least one CO detector on every level.
  • Install detectors within 10 feet of the internal garage door: Many people unsafely leave their cars running in the garage, leading to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, even if the large garage door is wide open. A CO sensor right 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 weighs about the same as air, but it’s frequently carried upward in the hot air created by combustion appliances. Putting in detectors close to the ceiling is a good way to catch this rising air. Models with digital readouts are best located at eye level to make sure they’re easy to read.
  • Add detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: Certain fuel-burning machines emit a tiny, non-toxic amount of carbon monoxide at startup. This disperses quickly, but in situations where a CO detector is installed right next to it, it might give off false alarms.
  • Have detectors away from extreme heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have specific tolerances for heat and humidity. To minimize false alarms, try not to install them in bathrooms, in harsh sunlight, around air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide detector?

Depending on the specific unit, the manufacturer may recommend testing once a month and resetting to sustain proper functionality. Also, replace the batteries in battery-powered units twice a year. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery annually or when the alarm begins chirping, whichever starts first. Then, replace the CO detector completely after 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 alarm. Review the instruction manual for directions unique to your unit, understanding that testing follows this general process:

  • Press and hold the Test button. It might need 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to start.
  • Loud beeping signifies the detector is functioning correctly.
  • Let go of the Test button and wait for two quick beeps, a flash or both. If the device goes on beeping when you let go of the button, press and hold it again for five seconds to quiet it.

Change the batteries if the unit fails to perform as expected during 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 when the alarm goes off, after running 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 can note which function applies.

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 replace the detector.

What should I do if a carbon monoxide alarm is triggered?

Use these steps to take care of your home and family:

  • Do not dismiss the alarm. You won’t always be able to notice dangerous levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so assume the alarm is functioning correctly when it goes off.
  • Evacuate all people and pets immediately. If you’re able to, open windows and doors on your way out to attempt to thin out the concentration of CO gas.
  • Call 911 or the 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 running. Opening windows and doors might 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, 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 schedule repair services to stop the problem from returning.

Get Support from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

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

The team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is ready to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair issues with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We recognize which signs indicate a possible carbon monoxide leak— like 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.

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