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

As cooler weather arrives, now is a great time to get started thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season begins, the Centers for Disease Control says the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous 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 running like it’s supposed to, the gas is safely moved outside of your home. Breaks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to spill into your house, where prolonged exposure can be lethal.

Although carbon monoxide poisoning is avoidable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die from it each year. And another approximately 50,000 people go to the hospital because of related issues, such as headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

The best ways you can safeguard your family is by organizing yearly maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, like your furnace and water heater, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s an option on the market that matches for your residence and budget.

Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smart carbon monoxide detectors, including the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it straightforward to remain in control for keeping your home safe. They’re frequently sold 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 perks of having them in your residence:

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

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

• • Can be quieted from your phone.

• • Automatically tests its sensors and batteries and reveals findings through a useful report on your phone.

• • Warns you of dead batteries with an alert on your phone, not a screeching noise in the middle of the night.

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

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

When you’re getting a new device, it’s vital to know where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages putting a carbon monoxide detector around five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is since carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.

We encourage having a detector on each floor of your house, especially 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 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 work 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 once a month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in should be tested weekly. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly simple. Use the button to be certain your detector is functioning.

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

If you’re hearing a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it usually indicates 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. In general, it’s approximately 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your device’s manufacturer.

If you’re wondering why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s usually due to the fact it’s sensing high amounts of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with constant, loud beeping, leave your house right away and contact 911.

Now is an excellent time to confirm your carbon monoxide detector is running like it’s supposed to before heating season arrives. 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. Get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you pick the perfect carbon monoxide detector for your residence.