Smart vs. Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detectors: How to Select the Best Carbon Monoxide Detector for Your Home
As autumn gets closer, now is a great time to get started thinking about your residence’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season is underway, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning goes up.
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a byproduct of combustion your gas furnace relies on to add warmth to your home. When your heater is operating like it’s supposed to, the gas is safely transported outside of your residence. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to seep into your residence, where prolonged 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 every year. And another approximately 50,000 people go to the hospital due to related ailments, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
The best ways you can help your home is by setting up yearly maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and installing a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a model available that fits 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 duo carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can typically be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.
Here are a few other perks of installing them in your house:
- Alerts you that there’s trouble through voice notifications, plus alerts on your phone.
- Points out the problem room, such as the kitchen or basement.
- Can be silenced from your phone.
- Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and shares findings through a useful report on your phone.
- Alerts 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 issue with having Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the expense. These detectors are sometimes much higher-priced than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many beneficial and important features you don’t receive in a non-smart device.
When you’re buying a new device, it’s crucial to understand where to put 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 since carbon monoxide can rise with hot air.
We suggest using a detector on each floor of your house, as well as 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 fewer 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 advises testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms once a month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in should be tested weekly. If you’re concerned about how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s more or less simple. Use the button to make sure your detector is working.
If your detector is hardwired, make sure to swap the backup battery at least annually. If it’s battery-powered, you’ll want to replace it once a month to bypass the annoying chirp in the middle of the night.
If you’re getting a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it often 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. In general, it’s around 5–10 years, but make sure to check instructions from your device’s manufacturer.
If you’re wondering why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s frequently due to the fact it’s picking up high levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with constant, loud beeping, leave your house as quickly as possible and contact 911.
Now is a good time to confirm 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 can help. Contact us at 540-302-8645 today and we’ll help you select the best carbon monoxide detector for your home.
