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, but it can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage or death. As a result, more than 400 people die of accidental carbon monoxide influence each year, a higher fatality rate compared to any other type of poisoning.

As the weather cools down, you close up your home for the winter and count on heating appliances to remain warm. These situations are when the risk of carbon monoxide inhalation is highest. The good news is you can defend your family from a gas leak in several ways. One of the most efficient methods is to put in CO detectors throughout your home. Try this guide to help you understand where carbon monoxide comes from and how to reap the benefits of your CO alarms.

What causes carbon monoxide in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. As a result, this gas is generated anytime a fuel source burns, such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Frequent causes of carbon monoxide in a house include:

• Clogged 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 sitting in the garage

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

Do smoke detectors sense carbon monoxide?

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. In fact, they start an alarm when they detect a certain amount of smoke produced by a fire. Possessing functional smoke detectors lowers the risk of dying in a house fire by about 55 percent.

Smoke detectors are available in two main modes—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection functions well with fast-growing fires that emit large flames, while photoelectric detectors are more effective with smoldering, smoky fires. The newest smoke detectors incorporate both forms of alarms in one unit to increase the chance of sensing a fire, regardless of how it burns.

Unmistakably, smoke detectors and CO alarms are similarly important home safety devices. If you check the ceiling and notice an alarm of some kind, you might not 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 several factors to keep in mind:

• Most 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 more than a decade old, replace it as soon as possible.
• Plug-in devices that extract power with an outlet are almost always carbon monoxide will be labeled so.
• Some alarms will be two-in-one, sensing both smoke and carbon monoxide with an indicator light for each. Nevertheless, it can be hard to tell without a label on the front, so checking the manufacturing details on the back is smart.

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. Follow these guidelines to ensure complete coverage:

• Install carbon monoxide detectors nearby sleeping areas: CO gas exposure is most likely at night when furnaces are running constantly to keep your home comfortable. 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, one detector is sufficient.
• Add detectors on every floor: Dangerous carbon monoxide gas can become stuck on a single floor of your home, so try to have at least one CO detector on all floors.
• 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 while the large garage door is fully open. A CO sensor right inside the door—and in the room over the garage—alerts you of elevated carbon monoxide levels within your home.
• Put in detectors at the appropriate height: Carbon monoxide features a weight similar to air, but it’s commonly pushed up by the hot air created by combustion appliances. Installing detectors close to the ceiling is a good way to catch this rising air. Models that come with digital readouts are best placed at eye level to keep them easy to read.
• Install detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: Some fuel-burning machines produce a tiny, harmless amount of carbon monoxide as they first start running. This dissipates quickly, but in situations where a CO detector is positioned too close, it may give off false alarms.

• Install detectors away from extreme heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have certain tolerances for heat and humidity. To limit false alarms, don’t install them in bathrooms, in direct sunlight, near air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide detector?

Depending on the model, the manufacturer may suggest monthly testing and resetting to ensure proper functionality. Also, replace the batteries in battery-powered units after 6 months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery once a year or when the alarm begins chirping, whichever comes first. Then, replace the CO detector outright every 10 years or in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm

It only takes a minute to test your CO alarm. Read the instruction manual for directions individual to your unit, with the knowledge that testing follows this general procedure:

• Press and hold the Test button. It may need 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to start.
• Loud beeping means the detector is functioning correctly.
• Let go of the Test button and wait for two fast beeps, a flash or both. If the device continues beeping when you release the button, press and hold it again for five seconds to quiet it.

Replace the batteries if the unit fails to perform as expected during the test. If replacement batteries don’t change anything, replace the detector immediately.

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm

You only have to reset your unit after the alarm goes off, after testing the device or after replacing the batteries. Certain models automatically reset themselves in 10 minutes of these events, while other models need a manual reset. The instruction manual can 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 see a flash, try the reset again or replace the batteries. If nothing happens, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with support from the manufacturer, or install a new detector.

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

Follow these steps to safeguard your home and family:

• Do not dismiss the alarm. You may not be able to notice hazardous 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 try and thin out the concentration of CO gas.
• Call 911 or a local fire department and inform them that the carbon monoxide alarm has gone off.

• Do not assume 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 go into your home, assess carbon monoxide levels, check for the source of the CO leak and determine if it’s safe to go back inside. Depending on the cause, you might need to request repair services to stop the problem from recurring.

Find Support from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

With the appropriate precautions, there’s no need to be afraid of carbon monoxide inhalation in your home. Along with installing CO alarms, it’s important to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, particularly as winter gets underway.

The team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is qualified to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair problems with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We know what signs suggest a possible 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 Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for more information.