On Christmas Eve my CO alarm went off, even though we did not have the heating on. Is there any way to test if the CO alarm is working correctly? In the end I had to take out the batteries to stop the noise. It did scare us, though!
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How do I know if my CO alarm went off because of Carbon Monoxide?
Started by
Guest_dorothperk_*
, Jan 03 2012 12:43 PM
Co alarm carbon monoxide
8 replies to this topic
#2
Tom Sutton
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Posted 03 January 2012 - 11:01 PM
The electronics and batteries can be tested using the test button however there is no way of testing the CO detector and it has a life of only ten years. If you are having problems, then I would suggest you replace it its the safest option.
All my responses only apply to England and Wales and they are an overview of the subject, hopefully it will point you in the right direction and always treat with caution. Scotland and Northern Ireland has differing legislation
#3
Safelincs
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Posted 04 January 2012 - 08:42 AM
Hi
There is also the possibility that fumes come from a neighbouring property into the building. We had a CO detector in one of our kids' bedrooms located on the second floor of a semi-detached house. There was no fuel burning appliance on either the first or second floor in our house. Nevertheless, the CO detector picked up a significant CO reading (it was a digital CO detector). We found out that the carbon monoxide was coming from our neighbour's leaking chimney stack which allowed CO into the loftspace and down the loft hatch into our child's bedroom!
Did you have any open fire? These also create carbon monoxide.
And yes, the CO alarm could be at the end of its life. They only last between 5 and 7 years. I am not aware of any manufacturers who can produce longer lasting CO sensors.
Harry
There is also the possibility that fumes come from a neighbouring property into the building. We had a CO detector in one of our kids' bedrooms located on the second floor of a semi-detached house. There was no fuel burning appliance on either the first or second floor in our house. Nevertheless, the CO detector picked up a significant CO reading (it was a digital CO detector). We found out that the carbon monoxide was coming from our neighbour's leaking chimney stack which allowed CO into the loftspace and down the loft hatch into our child's bedroom!
Did you have any open fire? These also create carbon monoxide.
And yes, the CO alarm could be at the end of its life. They only last between 5 and 7 years. I am not aware of any manufacturers who can produce longer lasting CO sensors.
Harry
#4
Tom Sutton
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Posted 04 January 2012 - 11:07 AM
Further to what has been said, active CO detection, because of the electronics can have faults that sound an alarm without the presence of CO and results in a situation like yours. A possible solution could be to have a passive CO detector, sometimes called a badge as well, which will show the presence of CO and hopefully give you peace of mind.
All my responses only apply to England and Wales and they are an overview of the subject, hopefully it will point you in the right direction and always treat with caution. Scotland and Northern Ireland has differing legislation
#6
Tom Sutton
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Posted 04 January 2012 - 03:11 PM
Hi Harry
Why was the removal of the CO badges recommended? I fully understand the need for active CO detectors but why not use visual CO detectors as a backup? Also is there any independent reports on this subject using UK's main CO alarm manufacturer reviewed the badges which would be a competitor for his products leaves me a little suspicious.
Tom
Why was the removal of the CO badges recommended? I fully understand the need for active CO detectors but why not use visual CO detectors as a backup? Also is there any independent reports on this subject using UK's main CO alarm manufacturer reviewed the badges which would be a competitor for his products leaves me a little suspicious.
Tom
All my responses only apply to England and Wales and they are an overview of the subject, hopefully it will point you in the right direction and always treat with caution. Scotland and Northern Ireland has differing legislation
#7
Safelincs
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Posted 04 January 2012 - 04:45 PM
Hi Tom
Their main concern was that the CO patches did not have an audible alarm. So, if the patch detects any dangerous concentration of CO the people in the building would still be exposed to carbon monoxide, as they are very unlikely to check the colour of the patch turning from brown to black at that moment. Many deaths occur when people are sleeping or dozing, so there is no way these patches could help to prevent those deaths in these situations. The patches also only lasted 6 months, so that people seeing a discolourisation would be unsure if this was due to CO or age. What did not help either was the fact that in a test none of the patches detected concentrations of 50ppm and even at 350ppm not every model changed colour!
Harry
Their main concern was that the CO patches did not have an audible alarm. So, if the patch detects any dangerous concentration of CO the people in the building would still be exposed to carbon monoxide, as they are very unlikely to check the colour of the patch turning from brown to black at that moment. Many deaths occur when people are sleeping or dozing, so there is no way these patches could help to prevent those deaths in these situations. The patches also only lasted 6 months, so that people seeing a discolourisation would be unsure if this was due to CO or age. What did not help either was the fact that in a test none of the patches detected concentrations of 50ppm and even at 350ppm not every model changed colour!
Harry
#8
Tom Sutton
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Posted 04 January 2012 - 07:45 PM
Thanks Harry
Makes sense but as I have already said I would always use an active (electrochemical) detector and supplement it with a visual CO detector if it started playing up. During research I came up with a couple of websites one English and the other an American which discussed this subject in some depth which proved interesting. One suggested you should go for a digital version if you can afford it, because it will detect lower levels of CO well before it reaches danger levels as a result I will certainly consider this.
http://www.explainth...edetectors.html
http://communities.g...ing/pdf/1324663
Tom
Makes sense but as I have already said I would always use an active (electrochemical) detector and supplement it with a visual CO detector if it started playing up. During research I came up with a couple of websites one English and the other an American which discussed this subject in some depth which proved interesting. One suggested you should go for a digital version if you can afford it, because it will detect lower levels of CO well before it reaches danger levels as a result I will certainly consider this.
http://www.explainth...edetectors.html
http://communities.g...ing/pdf/1324663
Tom
All my responses only apply to England and Wales and they are an overview of the subject, hopefully it will point you in the right direction and always treat with caution. Scotland and Northern Ireland has differing legislation
#9 Guest_AndyPandy_*
Guest_AndyPandy_*
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Posted 24 January 2012 - 12:35 PM
Hi
I have read this thread with interest. One thing that has not been covered is that if an alarm has gone off there may be carbon monoxide leaking. Many people whose co alarms go off tend to believe that it is a faulty alarm and take the alarm's batteries out or remove it from where it is going off. If you have an alarm and it goes off I would suggest that you presume it has detected co and not that it is faulty.
If your alarm goes off and you want to double check that it was not a false alarm take the alarm outside to clear the sensor. Once the alarm has stopped alarming take it back to where it had alarmed. If it goes off a second time contact the gas board. Open windows and check that everyone in the house is feeling OK. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be drowsiness or flue like symptoms and headache.
Remember the carbon monoxide may not be coming from an appliance of yours so even if you have not had your heating on or had an open fire it could be seeping through the walls of your house.
Hope you have got your problem resolved, might be worth checking if you are attached to another property that your neighbours have a carbon monoxide alarm too.
I have read this thread with interest. One thing that has not been covered is that if an alarm has gone off there may be carbon monoxide leaking. Many people whose co alarms go off tend to believe that it is a faulty alarm and take the alarm's batteries out or remove it from where it is going off. If you have an alarm and it goes off I would suggest that you presume it has detected co and not that it is faulty.
If your alarm goes off and you want to double check that it was not a false alarm take the alarm outside to clear the sensor. Once the alarm has stopped alarming take it back to where it had alarmed. If it goes off a second time contact the gas board. Open windows and check that everyone in the house is feeling OK. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be drowsiness or flue like symptoms and headache.
Remember the carbon monoxide may not be coming from an appliance of yours so even if you have not had your heating on or had an open fire it could be seeping through the walls of your house.
Hope you have got your problem resolved, might be worth checking if you are attached to another property that your neighbours have a carbon monoxide alarm too.
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