Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a common risk found in the home. Known as the “silent killer,” CO gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, yet it can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage or death. Consequently, more than 400 people suffer fatal carbon monoxide poisoning each year, a larger fatality rate than any other kind of poisoning.

While the weather gets colder, you close up your home for the winter and trust in heating appliances to keep warm. This is when the danger of carbon monoxide inhalation is highest. Fortunately you can safeguard your family from carbon monoxide in different ways. One of the most successful methods is to put in CO detectors around your home. Try this guide to better understand where carbon monoxide can appear from and how to make the most of your CO sensors.

What produces carbon monoxide in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of something burned. Because of this, this gas is generated anytime a fuel source is ignited, like natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Prevalent 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 during an active fire
Poorly vented gas or wood stove
Vehicle sitting in the garage

Portable generator, grill, power tool or lawn equipment being used in the garage

Do smoke detectors sense carbon monoxide?

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Instead, they begin an alarm when they detect a certain amount of smoke caused by a fire. Having dependable smoke detectors decreases the risk of dying in a house fire by about 55 percent.

Smoke detectors come in two main forms—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection is ideal with fast-moving fires that emit large flames, while photoelectric detectors are more effective with smoldering, smoky fires. Some newer smoke detectors come with both types of alarms in a single unit to increase the chance of recognizing a fire, despite how it burns.

Clearly, smoke detectors and CO alarms are similarly beneficial home safety devices. If you look up at the ceiling and find an alarm of some kind, you may not know whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual difference is determined by the brand and model you prefer. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

Some devices are clearly labeled. If not, look for a brand and model number on the back of the detector and locate it online. You will also find a manufacture date. If the device is older than 10 years, replace it as soon as possible.
Plug-in devices that use power through an outlet are typically carbon monoxide is supposed to be labeled saying as much.
Some alarms are really two-in-one, sensing both smoke and carbon monoxide with an indicator light for each. That being said, it can be tough to tell if there’s no label on the front, so double checking the manufacturing details on the back is your best bet.

How many carbon monoxide detectors do I need in my home?

The number of CO alarms you need is determined by your home’s size, the number of stories and bedroom arrangement. Follow these guidelines to provide complete coverage:

Place carbon monoxide detectors near wherever people sleep: CO gas exposure is most prevalent at night when furnaces have to run frequently to keep your home heated. For that reason, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed within 15 feet of the door. If two bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, just one detector is sufficient.
Put in detectors on each floor: Dangerous carbon monoxide buildup 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 your internal garage door: A lot of people accidentally leave their cars running in the garage, resulting in dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, even if the large garage door is completely open. A CO sensor right inside the door—and in the room up above the garage—alerts you of heightened carbon monoxide levels within your home.
Have detectors at the correct height: Carbon monoxide features a weight similar to air, but it’s frequently pushed up by the hot air produced by combustion appliances. Putting in detectors close to the ceiling is best to catch this rising air. Models with digital readouts are best located at eye level to keep them easy to read.
Put in detectors at least 15 feet from combustion appliances: A few fuel-burning machines give off a small, harmless amount of carbon monoxide as they first start running. This dissipates quickly, but if a CO detector is nearby, it may trigger false alarms.

Have detectors away from extreme heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have specified tolerances for heat and humidity. To reduce 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 specific unit, the manufacturer will sometimes 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 starts chirping, whichever happens first. Then, replace the CO detector outright after 10 years or as outlined by the manufacturer’s guidelines.

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm

All it takes is a minute to test your CO sensor. Read the instruction manual for directions specific to your unit, understanding 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 functioning correctly.
Release 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 silence it.

Change 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 need to reset your unit after the alarm goes off, after running a test or after swapping the batteries. Some models automatically reset themselves in 10 minutes of these events, while other models need 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 listen for a beep, a flash or both.

If you don’t get a beep or observe a flash, attempt the reset again or replace the batteries. If nothing happens, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with assistance from the manufacturer, or get rid of the faulty detector.

What can I do if a carbon monoxide alarm starts?

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

Do not disregard the alarm. You won’t always be able to notice hazardous levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so expect the alarm is functioning correctly when it starts.
Evacuate all people and pets immediately. If you’re able to, open windows and doors on your way out to attempt to weaken the concentration of CO gas.
Call 911 or your 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 beeping. Opening windows and doors might help air it out, but the source may still be generating carbon monoxide.
When emergency responders arrive, they will enter your home, assess carbon monoxide levels, look for the source of the CO leak and determine if it’s safe to return. Depending on the cause, you may need to request repair services to keep the problem from returning.

Seek Support from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

With the proper precautions, there’s no need to fear carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. Along with installing CO alarms, it’s worthwhile to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, particularly as winter gets underway.

The team at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is ready to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair problems with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We understand what signs could mean a potential carbon monoxide leak— including increased soot, rusted flue pipes and a yellow, flickering burner flame—along with the necessary repairs to resolve 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.