Smart vs. Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors: How to Choose the Best Carbon Monoxide Detector for Your House

As cooler weather gets closer, now is a good time to begin thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season is underway, the Centers for Disease Control says the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning builds. 

Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a product of combustion your gas furnace uses to warm your home. When your heater is working properly, the gas is safely pushed outside of your house. Cracks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to appear into your home, where ongoing exposure can be lethal. 

Despite the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is avoidable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. are killed by it annually. And another approximately 50,000 people are transported to the hospital thanks to related issues, including headaches, dizziness and vomiting. 

The best ways you can help your loved ones is by organizing annual maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a solution on the market that fits for your house and budget. 

Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smart carbon monoxide detectors, including the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it easy to keep on top of keeping your home safe. They’re often sold as combination carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can usually be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi. 

Here are a few other perks of using them in your home: 

• Tells you there’s trouble through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone. 
• Locates the problem spot, such as the kitchen or basement. 
• Can be quieted from your phone. 
• Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and shares findings through a comprehensive report on your phone. 
• Notifies you of dead batteries with an alert on your phone, not a loud chirp in the middle of the night. 

• Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the type. 

The only downside of using Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the expense. These detectors are sometimes much higher-priced than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also include many helpful and worthy features you won’t receive in a non-smart device. 

When you’re installing a new device, it’s vital to learn where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends installing a carbon monoxide detector around five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is due to the fact carbon monoxide can rise with heated air. 

We recommend having a detector on each floor of your residence, as well as outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be sure the alarm will wake you up. 

Battery-Powered and Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Plug-in and battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors are the most economical. A few of the most popular models are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors. 

But they also have restricted features that aren’t compatible with your phone or smart home devices. They tend to have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use. 

The National Fire Protection Association suggests testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms once a month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in should be tested every week. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly straightforward. Press the button to be certain your detector is running. 

If your detector is hardwired, make sure to replace the backup battery at least annually. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to change it once a month to avoid the irritating chirp in the middle of the night. 

If you’re getting noise or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it usually indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s reaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you use. In general, it’s approximately 5–10 years, but make sure to read the instructions from your system’s manufacturer. 

If you’re concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s usually due to the fact it’s sensing hazardous concentration of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with continuous, loud beeping, leave your home immediately and call 911. 

Now is a good time to confirm your carbon monoxide detector is functioning as it should before heating season starts. If you need to schedule furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you select the best carbon monoxide detector for your home.