The Best Carbon Monoxide Detector or CO Alarm
How to Choose a Cheap CO Detector for Poisonous Gas Fumes at Home
Sep 10, 2009
There are thousands of deaths each year from accidental Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning in the U.S. It is particularly dangerous because it is impossible to detect without special equipment, it cannot be seen, smelt or tasted.
The early symptoms of poisoning might not be noticed, they include headaches and fatigue.
CO2 is produced when fossil fuel is burnt, so in gas and oil appliances such as boilers, fires, gas furnaces, gas stoves or cookers. Also as a by product of the internal combustion engine. So there are a number of common sense safety precautions which should be observed:
- do not leave the car engine running in the garage;
- do not leave the door open on a gas oven or use your stove to heat your home;
- do make sure all your gas appliances comply with safety standards.
What Carbon Monoxide Detectors are Available?
There are visual detectors which change colour when in contact with CO and are available for just a few pounds. They are not recommended by gas safety organisations because to be effective a person must check them: they might not be checked on the very day that there is a problem.
There are many different CO detectors on the market and some are very effective and yet quite inexpensive. You can expect to pay between £20 to £40 for one alarm and possibly a better price if buying several.
When choosing an alarm consider the level of simplicity or complexity that is required. Whether it should be wired to the mains or battery powered. Whether it needs to be portable. If it is to be in a tenanted house it should be simple and maintenance free. Look for the following features:
- complies with British & European Kite Mark standard EN50291:2001
- or complies with Approved American National Standard UL2034
- has an audible alarm
- will indicate when battery life is low
- has a battery back up if wired to mains electricity
- is easy to use
CO Alarm, Fire Alarm and Smoke Detector
A fire alarm, a smoke detector or a heat detector are not CO detectors. A CO detector will signal an alert when this gas is present at a certain level, there will be no other sign. Fire Alarms, smoke and heat detectors do exactly as they are described and will be loud enough to wake sleeping people and alert those in a different part of the building of the growing danger.
There are combined Smoke and CO alarms which conveniently do both distinct jobs in one useful package. These should still conform to the standards listed above.
A wide range of Carbon Monoxide alarms are available at a reasonable price. An purchase should be based on meeting the particular needs of the user and their situation also ensuring the device meets the latest standards.
Information Sources:
- International Code Council,
- British Standards Institution,
- Underwriter Laboratories.
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