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, however it can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage or death. Consequently, more than 40 0 people die as a result of carbon monoxide influence each year, a higher fatality rate compared to other types of poisoning.

As the weather gets colder, you insulate your home for the winter and rely on heating appliances to keep warm. This is where the risk of carbon monoxide exposure is highest. The good news is you can defend your family from carbon monoxide in several ways. One of the most efficient methods is to put in CO detectors in your home. Try this guide to better understand where carbon monoxide comes from and how to make the most of your CO alarms.

What Generates Carbon Monoxide in a House?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. As a result, this gas is produced anytime a fuel source is ignited, 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 damaged heat exchanger
Closed fireplace flue during an active 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 Recognize Carbon Monoxide?

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

Smoke detectors are offered in two basic forms—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection functions well with quick-moving fires that emit large flames, while photoelectric detection is more applicable for smoldering, smoky fires. The newest smoke detectors include both types of alarms in one unit to maximize the chance of responding to a fire, no matter how it burns.

Clearly, smoke detectors and CO alarms are both important home safety devices. If you inspect the ceiling and see an alarm of some kind, you may not recognize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual contrast is based on the brand and model you have. Here are some factors to consider:

Some devices are properly labeled. If not, check for a brand and model number on the back of the detector and look it up online. You will also find a manufacture date. If the device is more than 10 years old, replace it right away.
Plug-in devices that use power from an outlet are generally carbon monoxide ]94. The device should be labeled as such.
Some alarms are really two-in-one, sensing both smoke and carbon monoxide with a separate indicator light for each. Still, it can be tough to tell with no label on the front, so reviewing 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, the number of stories and the number of bedrooms. Use these guidelines to guarantee thorough coverage:

Add carbon monoxide detectors around bedrooms: CO gas poisoning is most common at night when furnaces are running frequently to keep your home comfortable. As a result, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed about 15 feet of the door. If two bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, one detector is adequate.
put in detectors on each floor: Concentrated carbon monoxide gas can become stuck on a single floor of your home, so make sure you have at least one CO detector on each floor.
Have detectors within 10 feet of your internal garage door: a lot of people accidentally leave their cars running in the garage, producing dangerous carbon monoxide gas, even when the large garage door is completely open. A CO alarm right inside the door—and in the room up above the garage—alerts you of increased carbon monoxide levels inside your home.
Have detectors at the correct height: Carbon monoxide is a similar density as air, but it’s commonly pushed up by the hot air released by combustion appliances. Putting in detectors up against the ceiling is a good way to catch this rising air. Models that come with 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 when they start. This dissipates quickly, but in situations where a CO detector is installed right next to it, it could lead to false alarms.
Have detectors away from extreme heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have specific tolerances for heat and humidity. To limit false alarms, try not to install them in bathrooms, in direct sunlight, near air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances.

How Do I Test/Troubleshoot a Carbon Monoxide Alarm?

Depending on the specific unit, the manufacturer might encourage monthly tests and resetting to maintain proper functionality. Also, replace the batteries in battery-powered units every six months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery annually or when the alarm starts chirping, whichever recognizing first. Then, replace the CO detector outright every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

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, with the knowledge that testing practices this general procedure:

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

Change the batteries if the unit won't work as expected after 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 once the alarm goes off, after testing the device or after replacing the batteries. A few models automatically reset themselves in under 10 minutes of these events, while other alarms need a manual reset. The instruction manual will note which function you should use.

Use 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 get a beep or see a flash, start the reset again or replace the batteries. If it's still not working, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with assistance from the manufacturer, or install a new detector.

What Should I Do If a Carbon Monoxide Alarm Is Triggered?

Follow these steps to protect your home and family:

Do not disregard the alarm. You may not be able to recognize unsafe levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so assume the alarm is functioning correctly when it is triggered.
Evacuate all people and pets as soon as possible. If possible, open windows and doors on your way out to attempt to weaken the concentration of CO gas.
Call 911 or a local fire department and explain that the carbon monoxide alarm has triggered.
It's wrong to think 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 could still be generating carbon monoxide.
When emergency responders come, they will go into your home, evaluate carbon monoxide levels, try to find the source of the CO leak and establish if it’s safe to return. Depending on the cause, you might need to schedule repair services to stop the problem from returning.

Seek Support from Service Experts

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

The team at Service Experts is ready to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair issues with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We know what signs indicate a likely carbon monoxide leak— such as excessive 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 Service Experts for more information.