Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless product of incomplete fuel burning, such as from an improperly set up gas stove, oven or clothes dryer; gas or oil furnaces, woodburning stoves, charcoal grills used indoors - basically any non-electric fuel-burning appliance can be a source of deadly carbon monoxide.
What Increases the Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill anyone, but infants, the elderly, children, unborn babies, and anyone with respiratory or coronary problems or anemia are at higher risk than healthy adults.
Most commonly, carbon monoxide buildup in homes is from open flames from gas stoves and ovens, and the most common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning is from vehicles idling in closed garages. Ironically, "energy-efficient" homes are more prone to carbon monoxide poisoning than older homes because they are more tightly sealed and don't allow for the exchange of air.
Choosing a Carbon Monoxide Detector
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide detector per house, near each sleeping area - centrally located by the bedrooms, for example. That's because carbon monoxide buildup is most dangerous at night, when the house is closed and the family is asleep.
But it is best to have one carbon monoxide detector per floor, within ten feet of each bedroom door, and also near the garage - because carbon monoxide can seep into the house from an attached garage.
Types of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
There are three basic styles of carbon monoxide detector to choose from, with a wide range of options in each category:
- Hard-wired to the home's electrical system with a battery backup.
- A standard plug-in carbon monoxide detector with a battery backup.
- A battery-powered carbon monoxide detector, much like a smoke detector, that chirps when the battery is low.
Most carbon monoxide detectors only have a lifespan of about 2-5 years, so even those that indicate that the battery is good and the alarm works may be ineffective at detecting carbon monoxide. If no one remembers how long the carbon monoxide detector has been installed, or if it came with the house or apartment, it's a good idea to check it for an expiration date or ask the landlord or previous owner how old it is. When in doubt, replace it!
Best Features to Look For in Carbon Monoxide Detectors
There are many kinds of carbon monoxide detectors to choose from, and the options can seem a little daunting. However, it is best to choose a carbon monoxide detector that:
- Is UL-listed (check for the familiar Underwriters Laboratory seal - and read more carbon monoxide safety tips at the UL website).
- Has a long-term warranty.
- Is easily installed and tested.
- Has a display screen showing the PPM (parts per million) of carbon monoxide. Cheaper carbon monoxide detectors don't have a display and may not keep a record of carbon monoxide buildup, but knowing when carbon monoxide buildup occurs can be useful for figuring out why it occurs.
- Has an "end-of-life" alarm that chirps when the detector needs replacing.
There are many different manufacturers who produce carbon monoxide detectors, but Kidde and First Alert make the some of the best known and best reviewed models.
What to Do When the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sounds
First, check to make sure that it is the carbon monoxide detector and not the smoke alarm. Then:
- Get everyone out into the fresh air.
- Ask if anyone has carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms: headache, dizziness, fatigue, light-headedness. If anyone does have these symptoms, call 911 or the appropriate emergency services number.
- If there are no symptoms, ventilate the building, turn off fuel-burning appliances and try to identify the source of the carbon monoxide.
- Only allow everyone back in when the alarm has stopped sounding and the PPM of carbon monoxide has dropped to zero. (This is why a display is so important!)
Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it replaces the oxygen in the blood when it is breathed in – making it impossible for the body to transport oxygen and causing tissue damage and death. Choosing, properly installing and maintaining a good carbon monoxide detector is the best way to protect against this silent killer.
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