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, yet it can cause unconsciousness, brain damage or death. Because of this, more than 400 people die of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning each year, a steeper 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. This is where the risk of carbon monoxide inhalation is highest. The good news is you can protect your family from carbon monoxide in different ways. One of the most effective methods is to install CO detectors around your home. Use this guide to help you understand where carbon monoxide is produced and how to make the most of your CO alarms. 

What causes carbon monoxide in a house? 

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. Therefore, this gas is produced whenever a fuel source burns, including 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. Alternatively, they sound an alarm when they sense a certain level of smoke produced by a fire. Having functional smoke detectors reduces the risk of dying in a house fire by nearly 55 percent. 

Smoke detectors come in two primary types—ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors. Ionization detection functions well with fast-moving fires that emit large flames, while photoelectric detection is more effective with smoldering, smoky fires. The newest 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 check the ceiling and notice an alarm of some kind, you won’t always know whether it’s a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The visual discrepancy is determined by the brand and model you have. Here are some factors to keep in mind: 

• Most devices are clearly labeled. If not, check for a brand and model number on the back of the detector and find it online. You should also find a manufacture date. If the device is older than 10 years, replace it right away. 
• Plug-in devices that draw power from an outlet are almost always carbon monoxide sensors be labeled as such. 
• Some alarms are two-in-one, detecting both smoke and carbon monoxide with a separate 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 depends on your home’s size, the number of stories and bedroom arrangement. Follow these guidelines to guarantee thorough coverage: 

• Install carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms: CO gas poisoning is most common at night when furnaces have to run frequently to keep your home heated. Therefore, every bedroom should have a carbon monoxide sensor installed within 15 feet of the door. If a couple of bedroom doors are less than 30 feet apart, just one detector is sufficient. 
• Put in 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 each floor. 
• Put in detectors within 10 feet of the internal garage door: Many 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 sensor immediately inside the door—and in the room above the garage—alerts you of elevated carbon monoxide levels within your home. 
• Put in detectors at the correct 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 up against the ceiling is best to catch this rising air. Models with digital readouts are best placed at eye level to make sure they’re easy to read. 
• Put in detectors around 15 feet from combustion appliances: Some fuel-burning machines give off a tiny, harmless amount of carbon monoxide as they first start running. This dissipates quickly, but if a CO detector is positioned too close, it could give off false alarms. 

• Put in 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, next to air vents, or close to heat-generating appliances. 

How do I test/troubleshoot a carbon monoxide sensor? 

Depending on the model, the manufacturer may recommend monthly tests and resetting to sustain proper functionality. Also, replace the batteries in battery-powered units every six months. For hardwired units, replace the backup battery annually or when the alarm starts chirping, whichever starts first. Then, replace the CO detector entirely every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

How to test your carbon monoxide alarm 

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

• Press and hold the Test button. It may take 5 to 20 seconds for the alarm to go off. 
• Loud beeping signifies the detector is working 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. 

Replace the batteries if the unit isn’t performing as expected after the test. If replacement batteries don’t help, replace the detector immediately. 

How to reset your carbon monoxide alarm 

You only need to reset your unit once the alarm goes off, after testing the device or after swapping the batteries. Some models automatically reset themselves within 10 minutes of these events, while others require a manual reset. The instruction manual will 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, try 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 can I do if a carbon monoxide alarm goes off? 

Use these steps to protect your home and family: 

• Do not disregard the alarm. You won’t always be able to detect unsafe levels of carbon monoxide until it’s too late, so assume the alarm is functioning correctly when it goes off. 
• Evacuate all people and pets as quickly as possible. 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 is no longer beeping. Opening windows and doors may help air it out, but the source could still be producing carbon monoxide. 
• When emergency responders arrive, they will search your home, evaluate carbon monoxide levels, check for the source of the CO leak and establish if it’s safe to go back inside. Depending on the cause, you may need to arrange repair services to prevent the problem from reappearing. 

Seek Support from Matz-Rightway 

With the proper precautions, there’s no need to fear carbon monoxide exposure in your home. In addition to installing CO alarms, it’s crucial to maintain your fuel-burning appliances, namely as winter starts. 

The team at Matz-Rightway is qualified to inspect, clean, diagnose and repair problems with furnaces, boilers, water heaters and other combustion appliances. We know what signs indicate a likely carbon monoxide leak— such as excessive 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 Matz-Rightway for more information.