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

As fall gets closer, now is a great time to begin thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season begins, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning builds.

Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a result of combustion your gas furnace relies on to warm your residence. When your heating is running as it should, the gas is correctly transported outside of your house. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your residence, where long-term exposure can be lethal.

Although carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die from it annually. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the emergency room due to related ailments, including headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

The best ways you can protect your home is by organizing 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 out there that matches for your home and budget.

Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smart carbon monoxide detectors, such as the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it simple to remain in control for keeping your family safe. They’re frequently available as combination carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.

Here are a few other benefits of using them in your house:

• • Signals that there’s an issue through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone.

• • Reveals the problem spot, such as the kitchen or basement.

• • Can be silenced from your phone.

• • Automatically reviews its sensors and batteries and shares findings through a useful report on your phone.

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

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

The only issue with using Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the expense. These detectors are sometimes much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also offer many helpful and valuable features you can’t receive in a non-smart device.

When you’re buying a new device, it’s important to learn where to place carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests installing a carbon monoxide detector around five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is because carbon monoxide can rise with hot air.

We encourage having a detector on each floor of your house, including outside bedrooms. You’ll want to make sure 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 couple 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 usually 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 every month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in need to be tested every week. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly easy. Use the button to make sure your detector is working.

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 replace 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 means 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 have. Most often, it’s approximately 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 likely due to the fact it’s sensing hazardous amounts of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your home immediately and contact 911.

Now is an excellent time to confirm your carbon monoxide detector is functioning properly 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 & 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 house.