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

As fall gets closer, now is a great time to start thinking about your home’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season begins, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning goes up.

Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a result of combustion your gas furnace relies on to add warmth to your house. When your heating is running as it should, the gas is safely moved outside of your house. Cracks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to seep into your house, where ongoing exposure can be fatal.

Although carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. die from it every year. And another approximately 50,000 people visit the ER thanks to related ailments, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting.

The best ways you can help your family is by setting up annual 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 out there that matches for your home and budget.

Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smart carbon monoxide detectors, including the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it straightforward to remain in control for keeping your family safe. They’re often sold as combined carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can generally be used with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi.

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

• • Alerts you that there’s an issue through voice notifications, as well as alerts on your phone.

• • Locates the problem spot, such as the kitchen or basement.

• • Can be silenced from your phone.

• • Automatically tests its sensors and batteries and reveals findings through a full report on your phone.

• • Warns you of dying batteries with an alert on your phone, not a loud noise in the middle of the night.

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

The only downside of having Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the expense. These detectors are frequently much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many useful and important features you don’t get in a non-smart device.

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

We advise installing a detector on each floor of your house, especially outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain the noise 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 few of the most popular styles 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 tend to have a digital display and test button, which you’ll have to remember to use.

The National Fire Protection Association advises testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms each month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in need to be tested every week. If you’re unsure how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly easy. Press the button to ensure your detector is working.

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

If you’re getting a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping regularly, it generally signals it has a low battery. Or, it’s approaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you have. Most often, it’s around 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your specific manufacturer.

If you’re concerned about why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s often due to the fact it’s detected hazardous levels of carbon monoxide. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off with constant, loud beeping, leave your residence as quickly as possible and call 911.

Now is an excellent time to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is running normally before heating season begins. 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 assist you. Contact us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you find the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your house.