How often should you test a carbon monoxide detector?
Test a carbon monoxide detector at least once a month, and check the battery and the date printed on the back at the same time. Monthly testing catches dead batteries and failed sensors before a real emergency, when you will need the alarm most.
Pick a day you will remember, such as the first of the month, and test every detector in the house in one pass. If a unit chirps on its own every minute or so, that usually means a low battery or an end of life warning.
Do not ignore a chirp just because it stops after a while. Sensors wear out, and a detector past its replacement date may no longer sense carbon monoxide even when the test button still makes noise.
Most homes also have a different kind of alarm to think about. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors serve different purposes, and a home needs working versions of both. Combination units are common and handle both jobs in one device.
Does the test button prove the detector senses carbon monoxide?
The test button proves the alarm circuit, horn and power are working, but it does not prove the sensor can detect carbon monoxide gas. That is why the expiration date matters, and why an old detector should be replaced even if the button still works.
Some detectors have a separate way to test the sensor, and the instructions that came with yours should say how. Never test with exhaust fumes or any real source of carbon monoxide, since that creates the exact danger the detector is meant to warn about.
If you no longer have the manual, the model number on the back usually lets you find the instructions online.
Battery type matters too. Some detectors use replaceable batteries, while others have sealed batteries meant to last the life of the unit. Knowing which you have tells you whether a chirp means a quick battery swap or a full replacement.
Where should carbon monoxide detectors be placed?
Carbon monoxide detectors belong near sleeping areas and on each level of the home, following the manufacturer's directions for height and distance from fuel burning appliances. Avoid placing them right beside a stove, in a dead air corner or in a bathroom where steam can interfere.
In Arizona, many homes use gas furnaces, water heaters, stoves or dryers, and many have an attached garage. Any of these can be a source if something is venting poorly or a car is left running.
Many homes use plug in or hardwired detectors with battery backup. Those combine well with smoke alarms, but the combination units have their own replacement dates, so read the label.
Keep the area around each detector clear. Dust, cobwebs and paint can block the sensor, and a gentle cleaning with a vacuum and soft brush once in a while helps. Never spray cleaners directly into a detector.
What should you do if the carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, get everyone outside into fresh air immediately, then call 911 from outside. Do not stop to open windows or find the cause. Do not go back in until emergency responders say the home is safe.
Headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion that improve when you leave the house are warning signs. If anyone has symptoms, say so when you call.
After the home is cleared, have the fuel burning appliances inspected before using them again. A false alarm should still be taken seriously until a professional rules out a problem.
Write the install or expiration date on the detector in marker. It is easy to forget when a unit went up, and a note you can see from the floor saves guessing during your monthly test.
When should you call an electrician about a detector?
Call a licensed electrician when a hardwired detector will not power up, keeps chirping after a fresh battery, or you want detectors added or replaced on a circuit. Hardwired units connect to your home wiring, so the work should be done with the breaker off.
Vortech handles small safety installs like this for homes in Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise. It is a quick visit, and the electrician can check the wiring connection while there.
Interconnected alarms, where one sounds every unit, depend on correct wiring between devices. If they stop talking to each other, that is a wiring or compatibility issue worth having checked.
If you rent out a property or look after an older relative's home, testing and replacing detectors is one of the simplest ways to look after the people who live there, and it takes only a few minutes.
More questions: Electrician Questions: 12 Most Asked Answered for West Valley Homeowners