Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a common risk found in the home. Nicknamed the “silent killer,” CO gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, yet it can cause unconsciousness, brain damage or death. Because of this, more than 400 people die as a result of carbon monoxide influence each year, a steeper fatality rate compared to any other kind of poisoning. 

While the weather cools down, you insulate your home for the winter and rely on heating appliances to stay warm. This is when the risk of carbon monoxide exposure is highest. Thankfully you can protect your family from carbon monoxide in different ways. One of the most efficient methods is to put in CO detectors in your home. Check out this guide to help you understand where carbon monoxide comes from and how to take full advantage of your CO sensors. 

What produces carbon monoxide in a house? 

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct whenever something combusts. As a result, this gas can appear anytime a fuel source is burned, including natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Prevalent causes of carbon monoxide in a house include: 

• Overloaded clothes dryer vent 

• Malfunctioning water heater 
• Furnace or boiler with a broken heat exchanger
• Closed fireplace flue while a fire is lit 
• Improperly vented gas or wood stove 
• Vehicle running 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 begin an alarm when they detect a certain amount of smoke caused by a fire. Having reliable smoke detectors reduces the risk of dying in a house fire by around 55 percent. 

Smoke detectors come in two primary types—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection works best with fast-growing fires that produce large flames, while photoelectric models are more applicable for smoldering, smoky fires. Some newer smoke detectors incorporate both kinds of alarms in one unit to maximize the chance of responding to a fire, despite how it burns. 

Obviously, smoke detectors and CO alarms are equally beneficial home safety devices. If you check the ceiling and notice an alarm of some kind, you won’t always realize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual discrepancy is based on the brand and model you prefer. Here are several factors to consider: 

• Quality devices are visibly labeled. If not, look 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 a decade old, replace it as soon as possible. 
• Plug-in devices that use power through an outlet are generally carbon monoxide is supposed to be labeled saying as much. 
• Some alarms will be two-in-one, sensing both smoke and carbon monoxide with an indicator light for each. That being said, it can be difficult to tell with no label on the front, so double checking the manufacturing details on the back is worthwhile. 

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 nearby bedrooms: CO gas leaks are most common at night when furnaces must run constantly to keep your home heated. For that reason, each bedroom should have a carbon monoxide detector installed within 15 feet of the door. If a couple of bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, a single alarm is adequate. 
• Put in detectors on each floor: 
  Dense carbon monoxide gas can become trapped on a single floor of your home, so try to have at least one CO detector on all floors. 
• Put in detectors within 10 feet of an attached garage door: Many people end up leaving their cars on in the garage, leading to dangerous carbon monoxide gas, even if the large garage door is wide open. A CO sensor right inside the door—and in the room above the garage—alerts you of heightened carbon monoxide levels inside your home. 
• Install detectors at the proper height: Carbon monoxide weighs about the same as air, but it’s often pushed up by the hot air created by combustion appliances. Having detectors up against the ceiling is ideal to catch this rising air. Models that come with digital readouts are best installed at eye level to make them easier to read. 
• Install detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: A few fuel-burning machines give off a tiny, non-toxic amount of carbon monoxide at startup. This breaks up quickly, but in situations where a CO detector is nearby, it could lead to false alarms. 

• Put in detectors away from high 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 harsh sunlight, next to air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances. 

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide detector? 

Depending on the design, the manufacturer will sometimes encourage monthly tests and resetting to maintain proper functionality. Also, change out the batteries in battery-powered units every six months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery annually or when the alarm is chirping, whichever starts first. Then, replace the CO detector outright every 10 years or in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm 

You only need a minute to test your CO detector. Check the instruction manual for directions specific to your unit, knowing that testing practices this general routine: 

• 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 working correctly. 
• Let go of 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 quiet it. 

Replace the batteries if the unit won’t work as expected during the test. If replacement batteries don’t help, replace the detector entirely. 

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm 

You only need to reset your unit when the alarm goes off, after running a test or after swapping the batteries. Certain models automatically reset themselves in under 10 minutes of these events, while other models need a manual reset. The instruction manual will note which function is applicable. 

Carry out 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 hear a beep or observe a flash, attempt the reset again or replace the batteries. If that doesn’t help either, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with help from the manufacturer, or install a new detector. 

What do I do if a carbon monoxide alarm goes off? 

Use these steps to safeguard your home and family: 

• Do not dismiss the alarm. You might not be able to notice hazardous levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so expect the alarm is working properly when it starts. 
• Evacuate all people and pets as quickly as possible. 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 a local fire department and explain that the carbon monoxide alarm has gone off. 

• Don’t assume it’s safe to reenter your home when the alarm stops running. Opening windows and doors might help air it out, but the source might still be generating carbon monoxide. 
• When emergency responders show up, they will search your home, evaluate carbon monoxide levels, check for the source of the CO leak and figure out if it’s safe to go back inside. Depending on the cause, you will sometimes need to arrange repair services to keep the problem from reappearing. 

Seek Support from Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts 

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

The team at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts is happy to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair problems with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We understand what signs could mean a likely carbon monoxide leak— such as excess 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 Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts for more information.