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HVAC Education, Indoor Air Quality, Carbon Monoxide Detectors It is strongly recommended that all homes have functioning carbon monoxide detectors to notify you when there is an unsafe level of carbon monoxide in the air.  What is Carbon Monoxide?Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, stoves, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, furnaces, and similar devices. It is extremely harmful to people and animals who breathe it because it prevents your blood from carrying oxygen to your cells. Increased levels within an enclosed area can lead to poisoning or death, so having a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home can help save your life. If the alarm sounds, you’ll know to evacuate the home and call for help. What is the job of a carbon monoxide detector?
How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide PoisoningIt is strongly recommended for all occupied homes to have carbon monoxide detectors installed. It is especially important for homes with equipment like furnaces, stoves, generators, and gas water heaters to install carbon monoxide detectors to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Help prevent a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide in your home by following these steps:
Maintaining a Carbon Monoxide DetectorOnce you install a carbon monoxide detector, follow these steps to make sure it works and provides the best protection possible:
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Air Conditioners, HVAC Education, Heat Pumps, Air Purifiers, Indoor Air Quality, UV Lamps, Ventilators How Do I Refresh the Air in My Home? It's vital our homes are non-toxic, and with Gas Safety Week 2022 right around the corner it's important to take some time to ensure your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is up to scratch. But our expert tests have uncovered models that can't be trusted to keep you safe. Which? research carried out last year revealed that one in five UK homes are without a CO alarm and won't be protected from the deadly gas in the event of a CO build-up. With high levels having the potential to kill in minutes, the consequences of not being alerted about the presence of CO don't bear thinking about. Below we take a closer look at how CO alarms work and highlight the signs of exposure to carbon monoxide. Plus, we explain how you can use the Which? Trusted Traders website to find a reliable gas engineer. Inspiring tips for improving the place you live in Get our Home newsletter – it's free monthly What is carbon monoxide?Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can make you seriously ill if you breathe it in. It's produced by fires and appliances that burn gas, wood, oil or coal. As carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless, you won't notice if a fuel-burning appliance in your home is releasing it. What is a carbon monoxide detector?Carbon monoxide alarms are designed to sound when the concentrations of CO in the air are enough to harm you. A good CO alarm will sound when it detects the gas and it will be loud enough to alert everybody in the house. However, our own expert tests prove that not every CO alarm you can buy will do this effectively. A CO alarm makes a noise when there are 50 or more parts per million (PPM) of CO in the air. Alarms are designed to sound more quickly when higher and more dangerous concentrations of the gas are present. At Which?, we test whether CO alarms can detect the presence of CO more than 30 times for each brand. Only those that sound the alarm every time CO is present become Best Buys. See which models we recommend by exploring our carbon monoxide detector reviews. Who needs a carbon monoxide detector?In May and June 2021, we asked 7,125 members of the public who owned a fuel-burning appliance whether they had a CO alarm. Concerningly, 20% didn't have a CO alarm, and 2% didn't know. If you have an appliance that burns fuel in your home, such as a gas, LPG, oil or wood boiler, you'll need a carbon monoxide alarm in every room that fuel is burned in. You should also install a CO alarm if you have a wood or coal-burning fire or a wood burner. It's important that the CO alarm is positioned high up in the same room as the potential source of carbon monoxide. But don't install it above a source of heat or steam. For more tips on finding the perfect position for your CO alarm, see our guide on how to install and test carbon monoxide detectors. How to see if there is carbon monoxide in your homeAlthough this poisonous gas is odourless, there are still a number of ways to detect its presence. Look for a lazy yellow or orange flame on your hob, instead of the usual clear blue flame. You'll also want to check for staining around your fuel-burning appliances, as this is a sign of CO build-up. Note that carbon monoxide will cause your boiler's pilot light to blow out regularly. Plus, it can lead to increased condensation on windows. For more tips on keeping your home safe, see our advice on five ways to avoid a carbon monoxide build-up. What should I do if my CO alarm goes off?When you hear a CO alarm sound, you'll need to immediately follow these steps.
Carbon monoxide poisoning symptomsLow-level exposureHeadaches are the most common symptom of mild CO poisoning. Other symptoms associated with CO poisoning include dizziness, feeling sick and vomiting, confusion and tiredness, stomach aches, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Low-level exposure to CO can feel like food poisoning or the flu without a high temperature. If you're exposed to CO at low levels for a long period of time, concentration may become difficult and you may experience frequent mood changes. High-level exposureInhaling high concentrations of CO can produce more severe symptoms including intoxication, vertigo, loss of coordination, breathlessness, tachycardia, chest pains, seizures and unconsciousness. In the worst cases, breathing high concentrations of carbon monoxide can lead to death in minutes. Symptoms in children and petsPets and children can be the first to show signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Children have smaller lung capacities than adults, so they're more sensitive to high levels of the gas and can be affected more quickly. Pets can also be more at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning based on them being left in the same room as an appliance that's producing CO, such as a faulty boiler in a kitchen. Small pets, such as birds, can be particularly badly affected by a CO build-up. For more information on spotting the signs of CO poisoning, see our guide on carbon monoxide symptoms. How to choose the best carbon monoxide detectorWhen you're shopping for a CO alarm, look for accreditation marks, such as the Kitemark, that show the alarm has passed standard CO detection tests. Typically, well-known brands of alarm that you see on the high street pass all of our carbon monoxide detection tests. But our expert lab tests have also uncovered CO alarms that failed to sound when tested. Previously, we've reached out to various online marketplaces to get dangerous CO alarms removed from sale (see also: Which? investigation prompts 100s of unsafe CO alarms to be removed from sale). For every CO alarm that we test, we answer important questions including:
Our reviews cover plenty of brands, including Aico, FireAngel, Honeywell, Kidde and Nest. To ensure you're buying a CO alarm that responds as soon as it needs to, discover Best Buy models with our guide to the best carbon monoxide detectors. Use the Which? Trusted Trader website to find a gas engineerIf you're looking for someone to fit a new boiler or gas fire for you, or you need an engineer to service a fuel-burning appliance, Which? Trusted Traders can help you find a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Before allowing traders to join the Which? Trusted Trader scheme, we check applicants' credit reports, find out how happy their customers are with the work they've carried out and examine how they run their businesses. Head to Which? Trusted Traders to find a Gas Safe Registered engineer local to you. What happens if you don't have a carbon monoxide detector?Without a detector, your family could be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, a potentially life-threatening condition. Luckily, an effective detector is really all it takes for you to avoid this risk.
Do you really need a carbon monoxide detector?The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a detector on each floor of a residence. At a minimum, a single detector should be placed on each sleeping floor with an additional detector in the area of any major gas burning appliances such as a furnace or water heater.
Is it normal to have some carbon monoxide in house?Average levels in homes without gas stoves vary from 0.5 to 5 parts per million (ppm). Levels near properly adjusted gas stoves are often 5 to 15 ppm and those near poorly adjusted stoves may be 30 ppm or higher.
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Do all houses have carbon monoxide detector
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