Although you replace the batteries, carbon monoxide alarms don't last forever. They have a lifetime of 5 to 7 years, but it is important to refer to your user manual. After 5 to 7 years, replace the CO alarm completely.
CO alarm life span and end-of-life signal
CO alarms have a life expectancy of around 7 years. All CO alarms produced after August 1, 2009 have an end-of-life warning notification that alerts the resident that the alarm should be replaced. The CO alarm will beep every 30 seconds or display ERR or END.
Here's a simple guide: Smoke alarms alert you with three beeps in a row. Carbon monoxide alarms alert you with four beeps. A single chirp means the battery is low or the detector should be replaced.
Carbon monoxide detectors last between five and seven years. The recommendation is to replace them every five years because their ability to detect carbon monoxide is questionable after that point.
False or nuisance alarms are when your smoke detector or CO alarm goes off, but there is no presence of smoke or carbon monoxide in your home. However, if your smoke or carbon monoxide detector sounds indicating an emergency and you are not certain it is a nuisance alarm, evacuate the home and call 9-1-1.
How often should I replace my smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors? Smoke detectors typically are suitable for ten years. Carbon monoxide detectors are generally good for seven years. When you change your batteries in these units, check the date and replace them before they go bad.
How to test your carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly? To test your carbon monoxide detectors, press and hold the test button on the alarm. The detector will sound 4 beeps, a pause, then 4 beeps for 5-6 seconds. Refer to the user manual for your specific model.
Hard-wired and lithium-battery-operated detectors last about as long as other CO detectors. This means these alarms generally have a life span of seven to ten years. The difference is that you do not need to replace the batteries of these alarms every six months.
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.
If you have a carbon monoxide detector chirping and then it stops, it's important to take the situation seriously, even if the alarm is no longer sounding. Even if the alarm has stopped, get everyone out of the home to a place with fresh air.
What Does an Emergency Alarm Chirp Mean? This meaning is probably the most self-explanatory. When your carbon monoxide detector chirps 4 times in a row and pauses, this means it has detected unsafe levels of carbon monoxide. This means your entire household should evacuate immediately and seek fresh air.
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.
The cost to install a carbon monoxide detector, including the work to hardwire it in, is around $600, depending on the difficulty. The price for replacing a CO detector is in the range of $300 per unit.
While CO detectors are designed to be reliable, various factors can cause them to beep erroneously. False alarms can be caused by incorrect installation, placement near a source of fumes or steam, or even a buildup of dust and dirt on the sensor.
Any fuel-burning appliance that is malfunctioning or improperly installed. Furnaces, gas ranges or stoves, gas clothes dryers, water heaters, portable fuel-burning space heaters, fireplaces, generators, and wood burning stoves. Vehicles, generators, and other combustion engines running in an attached garage.
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.
Meaning: A flashing red light typically indicates that the detector has sensed carbon monoxide in the environment.
If you experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning: DO GET FRESH AIR IMMEDIATELY. Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances and leave the house.
Diagnosing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. There isn't a self-diagnosis option for carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms may include: Headache and nausea.
When the CO alarm emits a quick beep every 30 seconds and the red LED flashes, the unit has reached the end of its 7 or 10 year life. Replacing the batteries will not stop the chirp if the unit is at the end of its useful life.
1 beep every minute: This means that the alarm has low batteries and you should replace them. 3 beeps every minute: This means the alarm has encountered a malfunction and needs replacement. 5 beeps every minute: This means your alarm has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced with a new alarm.
If your detector makes three consecutive beeps around every five minutes, this indicates it is malfunctioning. Newer model detectors will prompt you by saying a recorded message or indicate through light colors. Look to replace your detector.