Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ultimate Guide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most hazardous gases found in the home. Dubbed the “silent killer,” CO gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, but it can cause unconsciousness, brain damage or death. Because of this, more than 400 people die of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning each year, a higher fatality rate than any other type of poisoning. 

As the weather cools off, you close up your home for the winter and trust in heating appliances to stay warm. These situations are when the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is highest. The good news is you can protect your family from carbon monoxide in several ways. One of the most efficient methods is to install CO detectors in your home. Use this guide to help you understand where carbon monoxide comes from and how to make the most of your CO alarms. 

What produces carbon monoxide in a house? 

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. Therefore, this gas is produced when a fuel source burns, like natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, gasoline, woo, and more. Prevalent causes of carbon monoxide in a house include: 

• Clogged clothes dryer vent 

• Malfunctioning water heater 
• Furnace or boiler with a cracked heat exchanger
• Closed fireplace flue while a fire is lit 
• Improperly vented gas or wood stove 
• Vehicle idling in the garage 

• Portable generator, grill, power tool or lawn equipment operating in the garage 

Do smoke detectors detect carbon monoxide? 

No, smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide. Instead, they sound an alarm when they sense a certain level of smoke generated by a fire. Having reliable smoke detectors reduces the risk of dying in a house fire by about 55 percent. 

Smoke detectors come in two primary modes—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection works best with fast-moving fires that generate large flames, while photoelectric detectors are more effective with smoldering, smoky fires. Some newer smoke detectors include both types of alarms in a single unit to increase the chance of sensing a fire, no matter how it burns. 

Unmistakably, smoke detectors and CO alarms are equally important home safety devices. If you look up at the ceiling and see an alarm of some kind, you may not realize whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual difference depends on the brand and model you have. Here are some factors to remember: 

• Some devices are clearly labeled. If not, try to find a brand and model number on the back of the detector and look it up online. You should also find a manufacture date. If the device is more than 10 years old, replace it right away. 
• Plug-in devices that draw power from an outlet are almost always carbon monoxide detectors be labeled as such. 
• Some alarms are two-in-one, detecting both smoke and carbon monoxide with an indicator light for each. Still, it can be hard to tell without a label on the front, so checking the manufacturing details on the back is your best bet. 

How many carbon monoxide detectors will I want in my home? 

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

• Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas: CO gas leaks are most common at night when furnaces must run frequently to keep your home warm. Therefore, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide detector installed within 15 feet of the door. If multiple bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, one detector is sufficient. 
• Add detectors on every floor: 
  Dangerous carbon monoxide buildup can become trapped on a single floor of your home, so make sure you have at least one CO detector on all floors. 
• Install detectors within 10 feet of the internal garage door: A lot of people unsafely leave their cars idling in the garage, leading to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, even when the large garage door is wide open. A CO detector immediately inside the door—and in the room above the garage—alerts you of elevated carbon monoxide levels within your home. 
• Install detectors at the proper height: Carbon monoxide weighs about the same as air, but it’s often carried upward in the hot air created by combustion appliances. Installing detectors near the ceiling is best to catch this rising air. Models with digital readouts are best installed at eye level to make sure they’re easy to read. 
• Add detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: Some fuel-burning machines give off a tiny, harmless amount of carbon monoxide at startup. This dissipates quickly, but if a CO detector is positioned too close, it could give off false alarms. 

• Install detectors away from high heat and humidity: Carbon monoxide detectors have specific tolerances for heat and humidity. To reduce false alarms, avoid installing them in bathrooms, in direct sunlight, around air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances. 

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide alarm? 

Depending on the model, the manufacturer may suggest testing once a month and resetting to ensure proper functionality. Also, replace 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 comes first. Then, replace the CO detector entirely every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. 

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm 

It only takes a minute to test your CO sensor. Check the instruction manual for directions specific to your unit, knowing that testing follows this general procedure: 

• Press and hold the Test button. It will sometimes take 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to go off. 
• Loud beeping means the detector is functioning correctly. 
• Release the Test button and wait for two quick beeps, a flash or both. If the device continues beeping when you release the button, press and hold it again for five seconds to silence it. 

Change the batteries if the unit fails to perform as expected after the test. If replacement batteries don’t change anything, replace the detector immediately. 

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm 

You’re only required to reset your unit when the alarm goes off, after testing the device or after replacing the batteries. Some models automatically reset themselves within 10 minutes of these events, while others require a manual reset. The instruction manual should note which function applies. 

Follow 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 hear a beep or see a flash, attempt the reset again or replace the batteries. If it’s still not working, troubleshoot your carbon monoxide alarm with help from the manufacturer, or replace the detector. 

What do I do if a carbon monoxide alarm is triggered? 

Use these steps to protect your home and family: 

• Do not ignore the alarm. You may not be able to detect unsafe levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so expect the alarm is working correctly when it is triggered. 
• Evacuate all people and pets immediately. If you can, open windows and doors on your way out to try and dilute the concentration of CO gas. 
• Call 911 or your local fire department and report that the carbon monoxide alarm has started. 

• Do not assume it’s safe to reenter your home when the alarm stops running. Opening windows and doors may help air it out, but the source could still be producing carbon monoxide. 
• When emergency responders arrive, they will enter your home, measure carbon monoxide levels, check for the source of the CO leak and determine if it’s safe to go back inside. Depending on the cause, you may need to schedule repair services to prevent the problem from recurring. 

Seek Support from Comfortech Service Experts 

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

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