Why do carbon monoxide alarms go off

Regardless of whether you feel ill or well, remain outside until you've spoken to a doctor or called the emergency advice line. Once the alarm has sounded, if there are gas appliances in your home you should avoid switching on the lights, smoking or striking a match to light a candle for example. If you feel ill or exhibit any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning after your alarm goes off, contact your doctor immediately or call for an ambulance.

If you believe your carbon monoxide emergency was caused by a gas appliance, call the Gas Emergency Service on If you use oil to heat your home, call Oftec on If your boiler, heater, stove or fire is producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, there's something wrong with it, and it will need to be serviced by a professional.

Find a recommended, local Which? Trusted Traders heating engineer in your area. And read more about what to do when a carbon monoxide detector goes off. Follow our six-point plan to keep your family safe when your carbon monoxide detector's alarm goes off. MS Matt Stevens. Check that your family members and any visitors have made it out of the building as well. If you notice someone might be missing, do not re-enter the building.

You can let emergency services know who you think may still be inside. It's always a good idea to have an escape plan in place for carbon monoxide or fire emergencies. This will help everyone in the building be aware of what to do and where to meet when there is an emergency. After a carbon monoxide emergency in your building, it's imperative that you have a professional pinpoint, repair, and if necessary, replace, the source of the CO leak.

Carbon monoxide can leak from different ventilation, cooking, or heating appliances and sources such as:. When there is a carbon monoxide leak, it is typically because the appliance is damaged, installed improperly, or is being used incorrectly. CO poisoning is more common in the winter because people keep their windows closed in the colder months, and are more likely to use heating appliances. For instance, if a chimney becomes blocked, the fumes enter the home instead of getting released outside.

It's the same dangerous effect that an idling car in a closed garage has. Even if you had a false alarm, it's important to test your detectors regularly. For detectors that are plugged into an outlet, you should test them once a month. If your carbon monoxide detectors are battery operated, change the batteries at least once a year.

By rule of thumb, carbon monoxide detectors typically last years before they should be replaced. Manufacturers highly recommend 5 years. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not a topic to be taken lightly.

Ensure that your tenants , family members, and friends are aware of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and what to do when their detectors are beeping by sharing this post.

Encore Fire Protection Blog. Carbon Monoxide Detector Beeping? Higher levels over ppm can trigger an alarm within minutes. Act quickly when an alarm sounds because low doses over long periods can be just as dangerous as sudden carbon monoxide exposure in ultra-high doses. Most people begin to feel the effects of carbon monoxide exposure at 70 ppm. Regular maintenance and inspections can help prevent safety hazards in your home , like a faulty furnace or fireplace.

Overall, carbon monoxide detectors sense CO fast and alert you as soon as they do. Some simple models plug into outlets or use a battery and alert you with a loud siren, like the one on your smoke detector.

These models are cheap and suitable for multi-room buildings that need several units spread throughout. Many models include sensors for both smoke and carbon monoxide. These are an easy option that you can swap out your existing smoke detectors for. They also reduce the number of sensors on your walls or ceilings. You can also find smart models that connect with your home security system or alert you of danger through a mobile app. These models are expensive but can be a wise investment if you want extra safety for kids and pets at home.

No matter what type of carbon monoxide detection you have, you should conduct regular maintenance:. Ensure everyone in the house can hear when an alarm goes off by placing a CO sensor in or near each of three critical locations in your home :.

You can also check out our guide on the best places to install CO monitors for more information. First, find out if your local laws require carbon monoxide detectors inside every enclosed sleeping area in a dwelling unit. In these cases, you need a sensor for every bedroom. Most states require sensors within a certain distance of bedrooms, so a single sensor in a shared hallway can cover multiple bedrooms.

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This is not a guarantee. SafeWise is an independent review site. We may earn money when you click links on our site. Learn more. Smart Home FAQ. By John Carlsen. Published on October 13, Share Article. About carbon monoxide. Detecting carbon monoxide.

Choosing a carbon monoxide detector. Compare the best carbon monoxide detectors. What does a CO detector do? What is carbon monoxide? Sources of carbon monoxide gas. Image source: safewise. Why is carbon monoxide dangerous? These are the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: Headache Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Shortness of breath Fatigue Perhaps most troubling is the similarity to cold or flu-like symptoms that are easy to ignore—shortness of breath, nausea, and mild headaches.

How risky is your state for carbon monoxide? How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning? Never heat your home with a gas range.