Buying guide for best carbon monoxide detectors
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Carbon monoxide is known as “the silent killer." More than 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year. 20,000 people go to the ER with symptoms and 4,000 people are hospitalized. Scary? You bet. But there’s a simple way to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning: a carbon monoxide detector.
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas found in the fumes of cars, trucks, fireplaces, grills, gas stoves, furnaces, lanterns and other small engines. It stays low in the air, doesn’t rise and can’t be detected by our senses alone. If it builds to a high enough concentration, it can replace the normal mix of air in a room from the bottom up. Since we can’t breathe it, it asphyxiates us slowly. The only fix is to get out of that room and open the windows to let breathable air in.
There are a lot of CO detectors on the market, with many models just from the same couple of brands. Our top model, the First Alert CO615 Dual-Power Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detector, plugs into an outlet and has a bright, informative display.
Who’s at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning can affect anyone, but infants and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.
Individuals with chronic conditions such as heart disease, anemia, and breathing issues are also at greater risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
To ensure that everyone in your home is safe, a carbon monoxide detector is a necessity.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often similar to those of the flu.
You may experience dizziness, weakness, headache, upset stomach, vomiting, and chest pain. Confusion and/or disorientation are also common. And if you inhale a large amount of carbon monoxide, you could pass out or die.
If individuals are asleep or drunk when exposed to carbon monoxide, they may die without ever showing any symptoms.
Carbon monoxide detector feature considerations
Display
A carbon monoxide detector with a digital display can be very effective. It will alert you to increases in CO levels in your home as they occur, so you can address the issue before the gas reaches a lethal level.
A detector without a digital display will not beep until the situation is an emergency requiring immediate evacuation.
Alarm volume and type
In order to ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is effective, the alarm must be loud enough to awaken and alert the entire household. Detectors listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) are verified to have a minimum 85-decibel alarm that’s audible within 10 feet of the unit.
However, alarm sound or decibel levels are important, but these levels are measured near the device. If you are far away from the device, the sound is less audible.
That’s why it’s important to have more than one carbon monoxide detector in a larger home or apartment. You need to be able to hear the alarm no matter where you are in the space.
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If you have issues with hearing loss, you can find carbon monoxide detectors with alarms that vary their frequencies, making them easier to hear.
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You can also find carbon monoxide detectors with strobe lights. This type of signal is helpful for those who are fully hearing impaired.
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Some carbon monoxide detectors have voice alarms. This can be helpful in a household of deep sleepers. Children, in particular, may benefit from a voice alarm, as they may sleep through a beeping sound.
Power source
Many carbon monoxide detectors run on battery power, which allows them to operate even during a power failure. The batteries must be replaced at least annually to ensure that the detector is always in proper working order. Many models chirp or beep to let you know that the batteries are running low.
There are some battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors that use lithium batteries, which can last the lifespan of the detector.
Other carbon monoxide detectors plug into outlets, and some models can be hard-wired into your home’s circuitry for power. Neither of these types can run if there is a power failure, however.
To ensure that your home is always safe, both plug-in and hard-wired carbon monoxide detectors should have a battery backup.
Interconnectivity
If you have a large home, having multiple carbon monoxide detectors is a necessity.
For the very best results, it helps to choose models that can be interconnected. When one detector goes off, all of the interconnected CO detectors go off, ensuring that the entire household hears the alert.
Testing function
To ensure that your carbon monoxide detectors are in proper working order, they should be tested once a month.
Ideally, your CO detectors will each have a test button. You can depress the button to make sure the alarm would actually sound in the event of an emergency.
Multiple functions
Some carbon monoxide detectors fulfill additional functions, such as smoke and/or natural gas detecting.
These devices can be convenient because you don’t have to install multiple detectors of different types throughout your home. However, depending on detection sensitivity, dual-purpose alarms may be less effective than single-purpose alarms, as the properties of contaminants are different.
Lifespan
The sensors in a carbon monoxide detector will wear out over time. In most cases, you can expect your detector to have about a five-year lifespan.
Look for a CO detector with a five-year life span to ensure that you’ll get the best performance from your investment.
You may also wish to choose a higher-end CO detector with an end-of-life timer to let you know when it is no longer effective.
Carbon monoxide detector prices
Carbon monoxide detectors vary in price based on their power sources and features, but you can typically expect to spend between $19 and $130.
Inexpensive
For a basic, effective plug-in detector, you’ll usually pay between $20 and $45.
Mid-range
For a hard-wired detector or series of detectors, you’ll usually pay between $45 and $100.
Expensive
For a higher-tech CO detector with plenty of additional features, you’ll usually pay between $100 and $130.
Tips
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Situate your carbon monoxide detector in a spot where it will wake you if the alarm goes off at night.
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Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
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If you have a digital-display carbon monoxide detector, install it at eye level so it’s easy to read.
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Test your carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month to ensure they’re working properly.
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Most manufacturers recommend replacing the batteries in battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year. If you hear your detector beeping or chirping, replace the batteries immediately.
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Replace your carbon monoxide detector every five years – or sooner if necessary.
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If your carbon monoxide detector sounds an alert, immediately go outside for fresh air. Make sure that everyone in the home, including pets, evacuates.
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Ensure that the entire household understands the difference between the sounds of the carbon monoxide detector and the smoke detector. This way, your family will know whom to call for an emergency and what to tell them.
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Battery-operated and plug-in carbon monoxide detectors are easy to install yourself. A hard-wired detector must be installed by a professional.
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Have your furnace or heating system checked regularly by a qualified technician to ensure it’s in proper working order. This can help reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
FAQ
Q. Should I choose a plug-in or battery-powered carbon monoxide detector?
A. Choose the power source that works in the locations where alarms are needed. The Kidde 9CO5-LP2 can be installed without a nearby outlet, while the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alarm offers plug-in operation with battery backup.
Backup power matters because you don't want an outage to leave the home without a warning. The CPSC recommends CO alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas; follow each model's installation instructions. Test alarms monthly and replace batteries or the entire unit on the schedule in its manual.
Q. Can one alarm detect both smoke and carbon monoxide?
A. A combination alarm can detect both smoke and CO, which may reduce the number of devices you need to install. The First Alert SMCO100 is one option that covers both. Check that the unit meets the applicable smoke and CO alarm standards and that its placement satisfies the instructions for both functions.
A combo model isn't a reason to leave another level or sleeping area without coverage. Learn its different alarm patterns, test it regularly, and replace it at the end of its rated life.
Q. What is an interconnected carbon monoxide alarm?
A. Interconnected alarms communicate so that when one detects a hazard, linked units sound together. That can help someone in a distant bedroom or on another floor hear the warning sooner. The First Alert SMCO500V Interconnect Combination Alarm supports a linked setup.
Check which models can connect to it, whether the connection is wireless or hardwired, and how many units the system supports. Interconnection supplements proper placement; it does not replace alarms on each level and outside sleeping areas. Test the linked system according to the maker's instructions.
Q. What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm sounds?
A. Get everyone, including pets, outside to fresh air immediately. Call emergency services or the fire department from outside, and tell them a CO alarm sounded. Don't go back in to silence the alarm, open windows, or search for the source; wait until responders say it is safe.
If anyone has a headache, dizziness, nausea, or confusion, tell the dispatcher and seek medical help. After the immediate danger is addressed, have the likely fuel-burning appliance, venting or other source inspected and repaired before using it again.
Our expertise
Jennifer Blair has covered kitchen, home and lifestyle products for BestReviews since 2017. She has written over 100 articles on household appliances, such as toasters, vacuum sealers, air fryers, vacuum cleaners and more.
Jmar Gambol has written more than 100 articles for BestReviews, from tech to household appliances to kitchenware. He enjoys helping shoppers find products that make their lives more enjoyable and safer.
