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, but it can cause unconsciousness, brain damage or death. As a result, more than 400 people die of accidental carbon monoxide exposure each year, a steeper fatality rate than any other kind of poisoning. While the weather cools down, you close up your home for the winter and trust in heating appliances to keep warm. This is when the risk of carbon monoxide exposure is highest. Fortunately you can protect your family from carbon monoxide in a variety of ways. One of the most successful methods is to put in CO detectors throughout your home. Check out this guide to better understand where carbon monoxide comes from and how to take full advantage of your CO sensors.

What generates carbon monoxide in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. Because of this, this gas is generated when a fuel source burns, including natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Common causes of carbon monoxide in a house include:

• • Overloaded clothes dryer vent

• • Faulty 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 idling in the garage

• • Portable generator, grill, power tool or lawn equipment operating in the garage

Do smoke detectors sense carbon monoxide?

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Alternatively, they start an alarm when they recognize a certain level of smoke generated by a fire. Installing dependable smoke detectors decreases the risk of dying in a house fire by around 55 percent. Smoke detectors come in two main forms—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection functions well with quick-moving fires that generate large flames, while photoelectric detectors are more suited for smoldering, smoky fires. The newest smoke detectors come with both forms of alarms in a solitary unit to boost the chance of sensing a fire, no matter how it burns. Clearly, smoke detectors and CO alarms are both important home safety devices. If you look up at the ceiling and find an alarm of some kind, you might not know whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual difference is determined by the brand and model you want. Here are some factors to consider:

• • Quality 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 can also find a manufacture date. If the device is more than a decade old, replace it right away.

• • Plug-in devices that extract power through an outlet are generally carbon monoxide is supposed to be labeled as such.

• • Some alarms are really two-in-one, sensing both smoke and carbon monoxide with a separate indicator light for each. That being said, it can be hard to tell without a label on the front, so checking the manufacturing details on the back is your best bet.

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

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

• • Add carbon monoxide detectors nearby sleeping areas: CO gas poisoning is most prevalent at night when furnaces are running constantly to keep your home heated. Therefore, each bedroom should have a carbon monoxide sensor installed within 15 feet of the door. If a couple of bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, just one detector is enough.

• • Put in detectors on all floors: Concentrated 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 each floor.

• • Put in detectors within 10 feet of your internal garage door: Many people end up leaving their cars idling in the garage, producing dangerous carbon monoxide gas, even while the large garage door is completely open. A CO detector immediately inside the door—and in the room over the garage—alerts you of heightened carbon monoxide levels inside your home.

• • Install detectors at the appropriate height: Carbon monoxide features a weight similar to air, but it’s commonly carried upward in the hot air produced by combustion appliances. Putting in detectors near the ceiling is a good way to catch this rising air. Models with digital readouts are best placed at eye level to keep them easy to read.

• • Put in detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: A few fuel-burning machines give off a tiny, harmless amount of carbon monoxide as they first start running. This disperses quickly, but when a CO detector is installed right next to it, it might lead to false alarms.

• • Put in detectors away from excess heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have specific 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 design, the manufacturer might encourage testing once a month and resetting to ensure proper functionality. Also, change out the batteries in battery-powered units every six months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery every year or when the alarm is chirping, whichever comes first. Then, replace the CO detector completely after 10 years or in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.

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, understanding that testing practices this general procedure:

• • Press and hold the Test button. It may need 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to go off.

• • Loud beeping signifies the detector is working 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 fails to perform 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 when 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 alarms require a manual reset. The instruction manual should note which function you should use. 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 notice a beep or observe 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 do I do if a carbon monoxide alarm goes off?

Use these steps to safeguard your home and family:

• • Do not ignore the alarm. You might not be able to notice dangerous levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so anticipate the alarm is functioning correctly when it starts.

• • Evacuate all people and pets immediately. If you can, 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 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 may still be generating carbon monoxide.

• • When emergency responders show up, they will search your home, evaluate carbon monoxide levels, check for the source of the CO leak and establish if it’s safe to go back inside. Depending on the cause, you may need to arrange repair services to keep the problem from returning.

Get Support from Rob's Albertan Service Experts

With the right precautions, there’s no need to worry about carbon monoxide exposure in your home. In addition to installing CO alarms, it’s important to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, namely as winter arrives. The team at Rob's Albertan Service Experts is ready to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair malfunctions with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We know what signs suggest a potential carbon monoxide leak— like increased 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 Rob's Albertan Service Experts for more information.