Carbon Monoxide Detector Going Off? Here's What to Do Next

Carbon monoxide detectors are extremely important home safety tools. They can save your life by telling you when dangerous levels of toxic gas are in your environment. But you might have questions about what to do when your carbon monoxide detector goes off.

It’s important to have a plan to keep you and your family safe. You likely already have an action plan in the event your smoke detector goes off; having a plan in case your carbon monoxide detector senses unsafe chemicals in your air is just as important.

This guide reviews what to do if your carbon monoxide detector ever goes off. We’ll explain what carbon monoxide (CO) is and some of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. We’ll also give you an overview of how your CO detector works to detect carbon monoxide in your environment.

What to do when your carbon monoxide detector goes off

Here’s what to do when your CO alarm goes off:

1. Leave the building with any family members and pets and seek fresh air immediately.
2. Dial 911 right away to let emergency responders know your CO alarm has been activated.
3. Don’t re-enter the home, even after the alarm stops going off. Open doors and windows may allow the CO in your home to dissipate, but you don’t know if the machine that triggered the alarm has stopped producing carbon monoxide. CO could build up again once you’re inside.
4. Wait until emergency workers have identified the cause of the carbon monoxide and have told you it’s safe before going back inside your home.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless gas produced when burning carbon-based fuel. Stoves, water heaters, fireplaces, vehicles, and a variety of other appliances and machines can create CO. It's known as the "silent killer" because it's virtually impossible for humans to detect it without the aid of a device.

Whenever carbon-based fuels like natural gas burn, they release carbon monoxide as a byproduct of incomplete combustion. Some fuels, like wood or propane, are considered low-carbon fuels because they emit lower levels of carbon monoxide into the air than natural gas.

Different types of machines produce different amounts of carbon monoxide, which is measured in parts per million (ppm). For example, starting your car can create CO levels of around 80,000 ppm for the first few minutes your engine is running.

To put that number in perspective, The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) claims that air levels of just 400 ppm can cause headaches and nausea in as little as an hour. That's why you should never start your car in an enclosed space (like your garage with the door closed).

Meanwhile, your home's appliances burn fuel inside, where the CO gas has less room to dissipate. So, there are rules for how much CO your appliances can emit. For example, stoves aren't allowed to produce more than 800 ppm of CO. However, most stoves are designed to release below 50 ppm.

Fuel-burning appliances that have been left on too long or haven't been properly installed for ventilation by a qualified technician can continuously release small amounts of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere until it reaches dangerous levels.

Carbon monoxide-producing appliances include:

• Furnaces
• Dryers
• Gas ranges (stoves)
• Wood-burning stoves (lower amounts than natural gas stoves)
• Ovens
• Cars and trucks
• Grills
• Space heaters
• Cigarettes or other tobacco smoke

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Breathing in carbon monoxide prevents your blood from carrying enough oxygen to your cells. It can be hard to determine when you’ve been exposed to high levels of CO gas because the effects of CO can be similar to flu-like symptoms.

Below are some common CO-poisoning symptoms:

• Headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Diminished muscle control
• Chest tightening or elevated heart rate
• Extreme sleepiness, possibly to the point that you lose consciousness
• Disorientation or confusion

How carbon monoxide detectors work

Your carbon monoxide detector can sense when CO in your home reaches dangerous levels. An alarm sounds whenever it senses high levels of the toxic gas. If you hear your carbon monoxide detector beeping, that's your cue to get out of the house right away.

The speed at which your CO alarm can detect carbon monoxide depends on how much harmful gas is present. For example, if there's less than 70 ppm of CO in your home, it might take your CO detector around an hour to sound the alarm. If CO levels in your home are above 400 ppm, you might hear an alarm in less than five minutes.

CO detectors can be battery-powered (like the Vivint CO Detector and Smoke Detector) or connected to your electrical system. A silicon microchip surrounded by hard plastic is inside every carbon monoxide detector. The microchip shoots an electrical signal to a carbon monoxide sensor in a detection chamber.

The sensor measures CO levels in an area. When it detects high levels of CO, it activates the alarm.

Some CO detector features include:

• Test button for regular checks
• Light or chirping sound that indicates low battery
• LCD screen displaying the amount of CO gas in the atmosphere

Carbon monoxide detector best practices

To ensure your CO detector functions properly and provides accurate protection for your home, follow these guidelines:

• Test your detector once a month using the test button.
• Replace batteries (or the entire unit) as needed, typically when the power indicator light shows or the device chirps.
• Replace CO detectors after about 5-7 years.
• Install detectors at least five feet above the ground or on the ceiling (because CO rises).
• Place CO detectors at least 20 feet away from the kitchen to avoid false alarms.
• Keep detectors away from fireplaces and other appliances that use fire.

Carbon monoxide detector FAQs

Understanding how carbon monoxide detectors work is important to the safety of everyone in your home. Below, we’ve answered some commonly asked questions about CO detectors.

Why is my carbon monoxide detector going off for no reason?

There are a number of reasons you might get a false alarm from your CO detector:

• Your CO detector needs to be replaced. Detectors can malfunction near the end of their life span.
• Your system detects a carbon monoxide leak from one of your neighbor’s appliances.
• Your shower isn’t properly ventilated, and steam is causing false alarms.
• You’re using a lead-acid battery charger. Lead-acid batteries are commonly used in vehicles like boats and campers.
• You have the wrong type of CO monitor. For example, enclosed campers need specially designed CO detectors.
• Someone’s smoking tobacco in your home.

Do carbon monoxide detectors give false alarms?

CO detectors can give off false alarms, especially if they’re not handled properly. Here are some tips to reduce the number of false alarms your detector sets off:

• Test your detector every month.
• Change the batteries in your detector regularly (at least every six months).
• Clean your detector with a soft vacuum brush and compressed air every month. Don’t use water or cleaning chemicals on your device.
• Install your detectors away from kitchens, fireplaces, and fire-producing appliances.
• Replace your detectors at least once every five to seven years or immediately if they get contaminated with heavy dirt or grime.

Should I worry if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?

For safety, always assume that your CO alarm is working properly when it sounds an alarm. You and your loved ones and pets should immediately exit your home if your alarm goes off. Carbon monoxide exposure can be extremely dangerous and even lethal.

Discover how Vivint can keep your home safe and secure

CO detectors should be a vital part of your home security system. Fortunately, Vivint offers peace of mind with our smart carbon monoxide and smoke combo detector.

The Vivint combo Smoke and CO Detector offers quick detection by using electrochemical sensors to identify carbon monoxide right away. It also integrates with the rest of your smart home to turn on the HVAC system to stimulate airflow, unlock any doors for a quick exit, and disable sensor alarms to improve ventilation.

Call us at 855.822.1220 for a free consultation today.