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

As fall arrives, now is an excellent 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 builds.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a result of combustion your gas furnace uses to add warmth to your residence. When your furnace is working like it’s supposed to, the gas is safely transported outside of your house. Cracks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to appear into your residence, where long-term exposure can be fatal.

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 visit the hospital thanks to related ailments, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

The best ways you can help your family is by organizing regular 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 a solution on the market that matches for your house and budget.

Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smart carbon monoxide detectors, like the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it effortless to keep on top of keeping your loved ones safe. They’re usually sold as combination carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can typically be synced with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.

Here are a few other advantages of installing them in your home:

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

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

• • Can be quieted from your phone.

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

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

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

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

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

We suggest installing a detector on each floor of your home, including outside bedrooms. You’ll want to make sure the beeping 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 models 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 generally have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms every month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in ought to be tested every week. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s more or less easy. Press the button to ensure your detector is running.

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

If you’re hearing a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it often signals it has a low battery. Or, it’s approaching 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 review instructions from your system’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 continued, loud beeping, leave your residence as quickly as possible and call 911.

Now is an excellent time to confirm your carbon monoxide detector is working properly 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 help. Get in touch with us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you select the perfect carbon monoxide detector for your house.