Do not unplug your alarm! A First Alert plug-in carbon monoxide alarm will only reset when it is receiving electricity.
This may silence the alarm for a brief period, but it will reactivate if CO levels remain high.
It is important to know the difference between the beeps. 4 beeps and a pause: This means that there is carbon monoxide in the air and you should seek fresh air immediately and call 911.
First, look for a button called 'silence' or 'reset'. Hold this button down for 10 or more seconds. Release the button, and the LED lights should blink or turn back on. Your unit might also let out a singular beep.
Your carbon monoxide alarm is going off for one of the following reasons: It is doing its job properly and detects CO pollution in the air. It is a false alarm caused by other household items. The detector is malfunctioning or the batteries need changing.
If the alarm sounds, vacate the house. Then, it's best to call 911 or the fire department to come out and test for the source of carbon monoxide. Once they've identified what is causing carbon monoxide to be released in your home, you'll need to contact a licensed professional to service the offending appliance.
The best way to alert you and your family to unsafe levels of CO is to install a carbon monoxide detector. It works like a smoke alarm, sampling the air in your home and creating a loud alarm when levels of the gas are detected. It's important to evacuate your home immediately when your CO alarm sounds.
Do not unplug your alarm! A First Alert plug-in carbon monoxide alarm will only reset when it is receiving electricity. Press and hold the Test/Silence button for 5 seconds to quiet a plug-in alarm while ventilating. You may have to do this numerous times to give the alarm time to reset.
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO, it can make you pass out or kill you.
Install a CO detector:
If your CO detector goes off and you feel ill, leave the house and call 911 or the local fire department. If you do not feel ill, push your detector's reset button.
Automated models usually reset themselves within 10 minutes of the alarm sound or battery change.
In most areas, the fire department does not charge to respond to carbon monoxide alarms or to check for the presence of CO in a residence. However, policies can vary depending on the jurisdiction or specific fire department. It's always a good idea to contact your local fire department for specifics on their policies.
Expired Batteries
A fire alarm uses different types of batteries, but they are not designed to last forever. I your fire alarm beeps, it might be a signal that your batteries are running low. Additionally, your fire alarm can also go off randomly due to poor connection of the batteries.
Dial 911 right away to let emergency responders know your CO alarm has been activated. 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.
Never ignore the sound of the alarm! If the alarm is sounding, pressing the Test/Hush button will terminate the alarm. If the CO condition that caused the alert in the first place continues, the alarm will reactivate.
If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the home with fresh air, turn off all potential sources of CO - your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater and any vehicle or small engine.
You shouldn't try to treat carbon monoxide poisoning on your own at home. If you think you had carbon monoxide exposure or poisoning, contact emergency services immediately.
Go to the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. , then tap Home Settings. Tap Safety & Security. Tap Sound Recognition, then turn on Smoke & CO Alarm.
To stop the sound: Press and hold the test/silence button for 5 seconds to reset the alarm. A light will keep flashing to indicate CO levels are still high. You may have to press the button several times to stop the sound. The alarm may beep again after a few minutes if CO levels stay unsafe.
4 Beeps and a Pause: EMERGENCY. This means that carbon monoxide has been detected in the area, you should move to fresh air and call 9-1-1. 1 Beep Every Minute: Low Battery. It is time to replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector. 5 Beeps Every Minute: End of Life.
Even with the doors and windows open, any of these activities can trigger carbon monoxide detectors. Using a grill inside the garage or near open doors and windows–Not only is barbecuing among the most common CO-producing activities, but it can also be a fire hazard when done too close to your home.
Opening windows helps the carbon monoxide quickly leave your home (as does opening doors). However, don't leave your exit path when getting out during this emergency to open as many windows as you can. Only open those that are along the way as you leave your home safely.
My carbon monoxide alarm is sounding. What should I do? Call 911 and report what is happening. Immediately leave your residence and wait for the fire department to arrive.
Carbon monoxide is invisible, odorless and tasteless. Inspection helps protect yourself and your family. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your house, and plan to check its battery every time you check your smoke detector batteries.