When properly maintained, these alarms will protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning.
A carbon monoxide detector is a device used to monitor the amount of carbon monoxide (CO) in your home. In excess, this colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas can lead to tragedy—it is fatal in high doses. Keeping your family safe is as easy as installing detectors in your home, which can often be done with just a screwdriver and a few minutes of your time. Ahead, how to care for these life-saving alarms long-term.
What is a CO detector?
This device's main function is to track carbon monoxide in a given area and issue an alert if levels become high, says Mark Dawson, the COO of Mister Sparky and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. "Carbon monoxide detectors are similar to smoke detectors in their function," he says. "Some models are not specific to carbon monoxide, but monitor for multiple gases including carbon monoxide." Every homeowner with a fuel-burning appliance, heater, or fireplace should have these alarms installed in their houses, he says. "There should be at least one detector on each level of the home, plus detectors in sleeping areas," he adds.
How often should you replace your monitor?
Because these types of monitors run constantly in the background, you should change their batteries twice per year, says Dawson (schedule these swaps with Daylight Saving Time so you remember). "For the detector itself? Most will last around five to seven years before you need a replacement," he says. Whether you are replacing your model or installing one for the first time, pay close attention to their final location. "Be sure to place the detector at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances. Put them high on the wall or on the ceiling, as carbon monoxide is a light gas and tends to rise," notes Dawson.
carbon monoxide alarm on bed frame
Credit: Kameleon007 / Getty Images
How can you maintain these devices between changes?
According to Dawson, these alarms' maintenance schedules should be a top priority. "One of the most important things you can do is to clean and test your carbon monoxide detector monthly," he says, "especially if you are heating your house with natural gas or other combustible fuels." Use a carbon monoxide test kit—it actually includes a canister of CO gas—which can be found wherever CO detectors are sold. And while "batteries should be changed twice per year (verses smoke detectors, which are normally changed yearly)," notes Dawson, swap them out sooner if your monitor begins making beeping noises or a new light becomes illuminated. This may be a sign that it's time to check your battery. "Unfortunately, you cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, so your detector is the most reliable form of monitoring," affirms Dawson.
What are the risks of improper maintenance?
If you are not replacing your detector and its batteries often enough, you run the risk of unknowingly being exposed to dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide in your home. "High levels of CO can overwhelm your body in mere minutes and result in CO poisoning," Dawson says, noting that this can lead to "serious tissue damage and even death, so ignoring the risk and not equipping your home is very dangerous." In addition to keeping your carbon monoxide alarms clean and cared for, Dawson says you should perform regular check-ups on any HVAC devices, as well. "The best way to prevent carbon monoxide and other gas leaks is to have your HVAC system inspected and maintained every year," he says. "Small problems, like hairline cracks in your heat exchanger, can be found and repaired before they grow into major problems, which could result in gas leaks." Staying on top of these small tasks, he concludes, can save your wallet and your life in the long run.
Let’s start at the source. What is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is known as the “silent killer” because it is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is poisonous to humans. The carbon monoxide detector is a safety device that can alert homeowners of a CO leak and help them escape a potentially life-threatening situation, like carbon monoxide poisoning.
When considering purchasing and installing CO alarms in your home there are a few things you should know beforehand:
1. What does a carbon monoxide detector do?
Carbon monoxide alarms detect the poisonous gas and help provide an early warning. In the event of a carbon monoxide leak, it is critical that you get to fresh air as soon as possible. Every second counts, and First Alert CO detectors can help provide you and your family the advanced warning necessary to escape your home during an emergency.
2. What are the main sources of carbon monoxide in a home?
Carbon monoxide can be produced by any fuel-burning device. The three main sources are your home’s furnace, dryer vent in a drying machine, and fireplace or chimney. It is important to have these appliances regularly serviced and cleaned by a professional to help prevent a CO leak that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
3. Where should you install carbon monoxide detectors?
It is important to install CO alarms on every level of your house so all family members can hear the detectors and be alerted to the emergency. You should also have carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and common rooms for extra safety while you and your family are sleeping.
4. Where should you place carbon monoxide detectors in each room?
Carbon monoxide detectors can be placed anywhere in the room. Contrary to popular belief that CO is heavier than air, CO alarms can be placed on the wall or the ceiling and will be just as effective.
5. Why is my carbon monoxide detector beeping?
The alarm has different beep patterns to communicate whether there is an emergency or simply a need to replace the detector. It is important to know the difference between the beeps or chirps. Refer to your alarm's user manual for your specific model.
- 4 beeps and a pause: This means that there is carbon monoxide in the air and you should seek fresh air immediately and call 9-1-1.
- 1 beep every minute: This means that the detector has low batteries and you should replace them.
- 5 beeps every minute: This means your alarm has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced with a new carbon monoxide alarm.
6. How to test your carbon monoxide detector to ensure they are working properly?
It is important to test your detectors monthly to ensure they are working properly. To test your CO alarms, press and hold the test button on the alarm. The detector will sound 4 beeps, a pause, then 4 beeps for 5-6 seconds. Refer to the user manual for your specific model. If the alarm does not test properly, install fresh batteries, make sure the batteries are installed correctly, be sure the alarm is clean and dust-free, and then test the detector again. If it still does not test properly, replace the CO detector immediately.
7. How often should carbon monoxide detectors be replaced?
If your carbon monoxide detector has replaceable batteries, they should be changed at least every 6 months. Although you replace the batteries, carbon monoxide alarms don’t last forever. They have a lifetime of 5 to 7 years, but it is important to refer to your user manual. After 5 to 7 years, replace the CO alarm completely.