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

As fall gets closer, now is a great time to begin thinking about your house’s carbon monoxide detectors. When heating season is underway, the Centers for Disease Control says the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning builds. 

Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that’s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It’s a product of combustion your gas furnace depends on to add warmth to your home. When your heater is operating properly, the gas is correctly pushed outside of your home. Cracks in your furnace’s heat exchanger or flue pipes can cause carbon monoxide to spill into your house, where ongoing exposure can be deadly. 

Despite the fact carbon monoxide poisoning is escapable, the CDC says at least 430 people in the U.S. are killed by it every year. And another approximately 50,000 people are transported to the emergency room due to related symptoms, like headaches, dizziness and vomiting. 

The best ways you can protect your home is by scheduling annual maintenance of all gas, oil, or wood burning appliances, including your furnace and water heater, and getting a carbon monoxide detector. From plug-in to smart carbon monoxide detectors, there’s a model on the market to work for your residence and budget. 

Smart Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smart carbon monoxide detectors, such as the Nest carbon monoxide detector, make it effortless to keep on top of keeping your family safe. They’re often available as duo carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and can typically be linked with other smart home devices via Wi-Fi. 

Here are a few other benefits of having them in your house: 

• Signals that there’s an issue through voice notifications, plus alerts on your phone. 
• Points out the problem spot, such as the kitchen or basement. 
• Can be shut off from your phone. 
• Automatically checks its sensors and batteries and shares findings through a full report on your phone. 
• Informs you of low batteries with an alert on your phone, not an annoying noise in the middle of the night. 

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

The only issue with installing Wi-Fi carbon monoxide detectors is the price. These detectors are typically much pricier than their plug-in or battery-powered counterparts. But they also provide many useful and important features you don’t find in a non-smart device. 

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

We recommend using a detector on each floor of your home, including outside bedrooms. You’ll want to be certain 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 reasonable. Some of the most popular models are Kidde carbon monoxide detectors and First Alert carbon monoxide detectors. 

But they also have fewer features that don’t link 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 recommends testing hardwired carbon monoxide alarms once a month. Battery-powered detectors that don’t plug in ought to be tested once a week. If you’re wondering how to test for carbon monoxide, it’s fairly simple. Depress the button to ensure your detector is functioning. 

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

If you’re hearing a chirp or your carbon monoxide detector is beeping more frequently, it usually means it has a low battery. Or, it’s reaching the end of its life. How long carbon monoxide detectors run depends on the brand you use. In general, it’s around 5–10 years, but make sure to review instructions from your device’s manufacturer. 

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

Now is a good time to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is functioning properly before heating season arrives. 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 provide support. Reach us at 866-397-3787 today and we’ll help you find the ideal carbon monoxide detector for your residence.