As cooler weather gets closer, now is an excellent time to get started thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season is underway, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning builds.
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a byproduct of combustion your gas furnace relies on to heat your house. When your heater is operating as it should, the gas is securely transported outside of your house. Breaks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to seep into your home, where ongoing exposure can be fatal.
Although carbon monoxide poisoning is avoidable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die because of it every year. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the emergency room due to related symptoms, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can safeguard your home is by organizing yearly maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and getting a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a model out there that matches for your home and budget.
Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smart carbon monoxide detectors, including the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it simple to keep on top of keeping your loved ones safe. They’re usually available as combination carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can usually be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other advantages of having them in your home:
- Alerts you that there’s a problem through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone.
- Pinpoints the problem spot, 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.
- Notifies you of dying batteries with an alert on your phone, not a loud sound in the middle of the night.
- Lasts up to 10 years, depending on the brand.
The only problem with installing Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the price. These detectors are typically much higher-priced than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many useful and worthy features you won’t get in a non-smart device.
When you’re buying a new device, it’s important to know where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages placing 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 using a detector on each floor of your home, including outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain the alarm will wake you up.
Battery-Powered and Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Plug-in and battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors are the most affordable. A few of the most popular styles are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.
But they also have limited features that aren’t compatible with your phone or smart home devices. They tend to 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 should be tested once a week. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s pretty easy. Depress the button to make sure your detector is running.
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 avoid the irritating chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re getting a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping intermittently, it generally signals it has a low battery. Or, it’s reaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors work depends on the brand you use. Most often, it’s between 5–10 years, but make sure to read the instructions from your specific manufacturer.
If you’re concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s frequently due to the fact it’s detecting high amounts of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your house as quickly as possible and call 911.
Now is a great time to confirm your carbon monoxide detector is running normally before heating season begins. 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 can provide support. Get in touch with us at 587-404-0790 today and we’ll help you select the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your home.