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

As autumn approaches, now is a great time to begin thinking about your residence’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season begins, the Centers for Disease Control says the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.

Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a byproduct of combustion your gas furnace depends on to warm your home. When your heating is operating like it’s supposed to, the gas is correctly vented outside of your house. Fractures in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to appear into your home, where ongoing exposure can be deadly.

Regardless of the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is escapable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die from it annually. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the ER due to related symptoms, including headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

The best ways you can safeguard your loved ones is by scheduling annual maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and using a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a model on the market that fits for your residence 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 home safe. They’re usually offered 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 installing them in your residence:

• • Alerts you that there’s something wrong through voice notifications, in addition to alerts on your phone.

• • Points out the problem area, such as the kitchen or basement.

• • Can be silenced from your phone.

• • Automatically reviews its sensors and batteries and explains findings through a full report on your phone.

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

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

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

When you’re getting a new device, it’s crucial to understand where to put carbon monoxide detectors. The Environmental Protection Agency encourages installing a carbon monoxide detector approximately five feet above the floor or on the ceiling. This is since carbon monoxide can rise with heated air.

We encourage installing 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 reasonable. A couple of the most popular types are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors.

But they also have restricted features that don’t work 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 urges testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms every month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in ought to be tested every week. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s pretty easy. Depress the button to ensure 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 swap it once a month to skip the annoying chirp in the middle of the night.

If you’re noticing noise or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it generally indicates it has a low battery. Or, it’s approaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors last depends on the brand you use. Most often, it’s around 5–10 years, but make sure to check instructions from your specific manufacturer.

If you’re confused about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s frequently due to the fact it’s sensing dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with steady, loud beeping, leave your house immediately and call 911.

Now is an excellent time to ensure your carbon monoxide detector is working like it’s supposed to 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. Get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you pick the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your residence.