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

As autumn gets closer, now is a great time to start thinking about your residence’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, the Centers for Disease Control says the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.

Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a product of combustion your gas furnace depends on to heat your residence. When your furnace is working like it’s supposed to, the gas is safely pushed outside of your home. Breaks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to seep into your house, where ongoing exposure can be lethal.

Regardless of the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is avoidable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die because of it annually. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the emergency room thanks to related issues, such as headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

The best ways you can protect your home is by setting up annual maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, like your furnace and water heater, and using a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a solution out there that fits for your house and budget.

Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smart carbon monoxide detectors, like the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it simple to remain in control for keeping your family safe. They’re usually offered as dual-purpose carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.

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

• • Alerts you that there’s an issue through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone.

• • Points out the problem room, such as the kitchen or basement.

• • Can be quieted from your phone.

• • Automatically reviews its sensors and batteries and explains findings through a comprehensive report on your phone.

• • Warns you of low batteries with an alert on your phone, not an annoying noise in the middle of the night.

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

The only downside of using Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the cost. These detectors are sometimes much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many useful and worthy features you can’t get in a non-smart device.

When you’re buying a new device, it’s crucial to know where to attach carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages installing a carbon monoxide detector at least five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is because carbon monoxide can rise with warm air.

We encourage having a detector on each floor of your house, especially outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be sure the beeping 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 types are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.

But they also have limited features that don’t link with your phone or smart home devices. They usually 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 every month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in ought to be tested weekly. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly easy. Press the button to make sure your detector is working.

If your detector is hardwired, make sure to replace the backup battery at least annually. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to swap 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 intermittently, it generally signals it has a low battery. Or, it’s approaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you own. Typically, it’s approximately 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your specific manufacturer.

If you’re concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s likely due to the fact it’s picking up dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with constant, loud beeping, leave your residence as quickly as possible and dial 911.

Now is an excellent time to ensure your carbon monoxide detector is functioning normally before heating season arrives. If you need to set up furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Reach us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you find the best carbon monoxide detector for your residence.