Carbon monoxide detectors which

The sensor then detects the colour change and sounds an alarm. These types of carbon monoxide detectors have been known to give false alarms over the years due to contaminants that can get in the haemoglobin however. For this reason, the gel pack should be changed regularly and the units can last up to ten years.

Some of these detectors are also available with digital read-outs of the CO concentration currently in your house as well as the peak reading from the period since it was installed. The advantage of a digital carbon monoxide detector is down to its educational power - you can see what levels it has reached during any absence from your home, and check levels that are below the threshold.

These digital models cost more but provide more information to the user. CO in the air is measured in 'parts per million' PPM and the harmful effects of the carbon monoxide depend on how enclosed the space is and the length of exposure.

Below we give some idea of the type of numbers that are safe and those that aren't in your household. For this reason it is advisable to replace an alarm after five years and check it on installation and every year after during its warranty. Copyright Safe I. Google Nest Protect: Best carbon monoxide detector. Best Overall. Works with other smart home devices. Doubles as smoke detector. Comes with battery or hardwire capabilities.

When the battery dies, you'll need a new alarm. First Alert Onelink: Best voice control. Best Voice Control. First Alert Onelink. Mobile app. Voice alarm. Syncing system. Built-in smoke alarm.

Big price tag. No smart features. Kidde Nighthawk Plug-in: Easy installation. Best Value. Kidde Nighthawk Plug-in. Affordable price. Positive customer reviews. Backup battery. Not compatible with home automation. Hardwired only.

How do carbon monoxide detectors work for people with hearing loss? Kidde Battery-Operated: Best value. No drilling required. No home automation. No smoke detection. No battery backup. Types of carbon monoxide detectors. Our approach. Carbon monoxide detectors FAQ. What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning? What should I do if I get CO poisoning? How common is CO poisoning? Who is the most susceptible to CO poisoning?

How do carbon monoxide detectors work? CO detectors usually have one or more of these sensors: Biomimetic detectors use color-changing gels that absorb carbon monoxide which triggers the alarm. Metal oxide semiconductors have silica chips that detect CO and send electrical signals to trigger an alarm. Electrochemical sensors use electrodes in chemical solutions that sense changes in electrical currents when carbon monoxide is present, and they sound the alarm.

Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts. From About. Because carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and also because it may be found with warm, rising air, detectors should be placed on a wall about 5 feet above the floor. The detector may be placed on the ceiling. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here.

In this article. Our video above shows how to buy the best carbon monoxide detector, how much you should spend, what to look for in the shops and the types of carbon monoxide detector to avoid,. Take a look at our recommendations for the best carbon monoxide detectors , based on stringent safety tests.

But if you have a fuel gas, LPG, oil, wood burning boiler, fire or stove, you should have one in every room where fuel is burned. It pays to spend a little more when buying a safety product like a carbon monoxide detector.

As the name suggests, the battery for this kind of detector is sealed inside the unit; once the battery runs out, the alarm will chirp, prompting you to replace the unit. The battery unit is tamper proof and some have lifetimes of around 10 years before they will need to be replaced.

Buying this kind of carbon monoxide detector is a good idea if you want to avoid needing to replace the batteries every couple of years or so. You can find out the best value and longest lasting batteries using our battery reviews.