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

As fall arrives, now is a great time to begin thinking about your residence’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season starts, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.

Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a product of combustion your gas furnace depends on to add warmth to your house. When your furnace is working like it’s supposed to, the gas is safely pushed outside of your house. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home, where long-term exposure can be fatal.

Despite the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. are killed by it each year. And another approximately 50,000 people are transported to the ER because of related symptoms, including headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

The best ways you can protect your loved ones is by setting up yearly maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, like your furnace and water heater, and getting 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, including the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it effortless to keep on top of keeping your family safe. They’re usually offered as dual-purpose carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be linked with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.

Here are a few other advantages of using them in your home:

• • Tells you there’s trouble through voice notifications, as well as alerts on your phone.

• • Pinpoints the problem room, such as the kitchen or basement.

• • Can be silenced from your phone.

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

• • Informs you of dead batteries with an alert on your phone, not an annoying chirp in the middle of the night.

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

The only problem with getting Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the price tag. These detectors are frequently much higher-priced than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many helpful and valuable features you don’t find in a non-smart device.

When you’re getting a new device, it’s important to understand where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends placing a carbon monoxide detector approximately five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is because carbon monoxide can rise with warm air.

We advise having a detector on each floor of your home, including outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain the noise will wake you up.

Battery-Powered and Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Plug-in and battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors are the most reasonable. A few of the most popular models are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.

But they also have restricted features that don’t link with your phone or smart home devices. They generally have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms every month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in need to be tested once a week. If you’re concerned about how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s more or less straightforward. Use the button to ensure your detector is functioning.

If your detector is hardwired, make sure to replace the backup battery at least every year. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to swap it once a month to skip the irritating chirp in the middle of the night.

If you’re getting noise or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it generally indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s reaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you have. Most often, it’s around 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 often due to the fact it’s sensing dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with continuous, loud beeping, leave your home right away and dial 911.

Now is a good time to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is running normally before heating season starts. If you need to request furnace maintenance or you’re interested in upgrading to smart carbon monoxide detectors, the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can provide support. Reach us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you select the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your home.