How To Maintain Your Carbon Monoxide Alarm
By Home Safety Store|June 09, 2022
During winter, we switch on our heating appliances to warm our homes. While household heaters are generally safe, a minor malfunction could cause carbon monoxide to proliferate.
Carbon monoxide is dubbed the “silent killer” because it is an odourless, tasteless, and colourless deadly gas. Victims can fall asleep and potentially die from carbon monoxide exposure before they even realise something is wrong. Issues such as a blocked flue pipe or a cracked heat exchanger can cause the deadly gas to permeate through your home.
That’s why installing and maintaining a carbon monoxide alarm detector is of the utmost importance; in fact, it could save your life one day. To ensure your carbon monoxide alarm is working correctly this winter, follow these five simple maintenance steps below.
Have A Look At Your Setup
A carbon monoxide detector will save your life in the event of a carbon monoxide leak – but one isn’t always enough. It’s wise to install one carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of your home (including the basement) to fully protect you and your family from harm.
It is ideal to place the unit outside the bedrooms on each floor as this can ensure the alarm is able to wake you up from your sleep. If you have a gas heater or other carbon monoxide-emitting appliances inside a bedroom, it’s best to place the alarm there, too.
Check The Batteries
The most common cause of carbon monoxide detector (and smoke alarm) failure is a flat battery. After all, a carbon monoxide detector will only work if it’s got a functioning power source. Therefore, you must check the batteries in your unit to ensure they’ve still got plenty of juice.
A high-quality carbon monoxide detector from a reputable brand like Lifesaver will have an LCD that informs the user about the battery status. If you’re not certain your battery will last for another year, it’s best to play it safe by replacing it with a new one. Don’t forget that even mains-powered carbon monoxide detectors require a backup battery, which needs replacing too.
Remember To Test The Alarm
While a carbon monoxide detector from a reputable, well-known brand is exceptionally reliable, no piece of technology is 100% foolproof. Various factors, including the aforementioned flat battery, could prevent the device from working correctly – potentially leaving you exposed in the event of a carbon monoxide leak.
The easiest way to gauge whether your unit works properly is to press the test button of your device. Now that the high-risk winter season is here, it’s high time you tested your carbon monoxide detector.
Clean The Unit
Similar to a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide detector can malfunction if it is too dusty on the inside. The device can confuse the presence of dust particles for carbon monoxide and trigger a false alarm. This is unfortunate as false alarms frequently cause householders to remove the battery of their device, leaving them vulnerable in the event of a carbon monoxide leak.
So, how do you clean your carbon monoxide alarm? Pop the brush extension onto your vacuum cleaner and hoover up any excess dust around the entry point to the chamber. Alternatively, you can use a soft brush or a damp cloth to clean your device.
Have A Look At The Expiry Date
Much like home smoke alarms, the carbon monoxide detector has a limited lifespan. Generally speaking, a carbon monoxide detector will have a manufacturer-listed lifespan of 10 years. After the unit has expired, there’s no guarantee it’ll work correctly, so you should swap it out for a new one.
Have a look at the fine print on the back of the unit to determine when its safe functioning lifespan is set to expire. If it’s going to lapse within the next 12 months, it’s best to replace it with a new one. You should carry out this check every year to make sure that you’re not relying on an old and potentially non-functioning alarm.
Visit The Home Safety Store
Need to replace an expired carbon monoxide alarm or upgrade an existing setup?
Then shop our catalogue of high-quality carbon monoxide alarms from the Lifesaver brand. Don’t risk your life (or those of your loved ones) with a cheap no-name device. A Lifesaver carbon monoxide detector is safe, effective, and reliable—it’s a brand you can trust.
Carbon monoxide is dubbed the “silent killer” because it is an odourless, tasteless, and colourless deadly gas. Victims can fall asleep and potentially die from carbon monoxide exposure before they even realise something is wrong. Issues such as a blocked flue pipe or a cracked heat exchanger can cause the deadly gas to permeate through your home.
That’s why installing and maintaining a carbon monoxide alarm detector is of the utmost importance; in fact, it could save your life one day. To ensure your carbon monoxide alarm is working correctly this winter, follow these five simple maintenance steps below.
Have A Look At Your Setup
A carbon monoxide detector will save your life in the event of a carbon monoxide leak – but one isn’t always enough. It’s wise to install one carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of your home (including the basement) to fully protect you and your family from harm.
It is ideal to place the unit outside the bedrooms on each floor as this can ensure the alarm is able to wake you up from your sleep. If you have a gas heater or other carbon monoxide-emitting appliances inside a bedroom, it’s best to place the alarm there, too.
Check The Batteries
The most common cause of carbon monoxide detector (and smoke alarm) failure is a flat battery. After all, a carbon monoxide detector will only work if it’s got a functioning power source. Therefore, you must check the batteries in your unit to ensure they’ve still got plenty of juice.
A high-quality carbon monoxide detector from a reputable brand like Lifesaver will have an LCD that informs the user about the battery status. If you’re not certain your battery will last for another year, it’s best to play it safe by replacing it with a new one. Don’t forget that even mains-powered carbon monoxide detectors require a backup battery, which needs replacing too.
Remember To Test The Alarm
While a carbon monoxide detector from a reputable, well-known brand is exceptionally reliable, no piece of technology is 100% foolproof. Various factors, including the aforementioned flat battery, could prevent the device from working correctly – potentially leaving you exposed in the event of a carbon monoxide leak.
The easiest way to gauge whether your unit works properly is to press the test button of your device. Now that the high-risk winter season is here, it’s high time you tested your carbon monoxide detector.
Clean The Unit
Similar to a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide detector can malfunction if it is too dusty on the inside. The device can confuse the presence of dust particles for carbon monoxide and trigger a false alarm. This is unfortunate as false alarms frequently cause householders to remove the battery of their device, leaving them vulnerable in the event of a carbon monoxide leak.
So, how do you clean your carbon monoxide alarm? Pop the brush extension onto your vacuum cleaner and hoover up any excess dust around the entry point to the chamber. Alternatively, you can use a soft brush or a damp cloth to clean your device.
Have A Look At The Expiry Date
Much like home smoke alarms, the carbon monoxide detector has a limited lifespan. Generally speaking, a carbon monoxide detector will have a manufacturer-listed lifespan of 10 years. After the unit has expired, there’s no guarantee it’ll work correctly, so you should swap it out for a new one.
Have a look at the fine print on the back of the unit to determine when its safe functioning lifespan is set to expire. If it’s going to lapse within the next 12 months, it’s best to replace it with a new one. You should carry out this check every year to make sure that you’re not relying on an old and potentially non-functioning alarm.
Visit The Home Safety Store
Need to replace an expired carbon monoxide alarm or upgrade an existing setup?
Then shop our catalogue of high-quality carbon monoxide alarms from the Lifesaver brand. Don’t risk your life (or those of your loved ones) with a cheap no-name device. A Lifesaver carbon monoxide detector is safe, effective, and reliable—it’s a brand you can trust.
