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.
All people and pets should quickly evacuate the home and find fresh air. Call 911 immediately and report that the alarm has gone off. Do not assume it is safe to reenter the home when the alarm stops.
Catalytic and infrared sensors are able to detect combustible gases, and are more commonly used in everyday life. Catalytic sensors are triggered when a combustible gas touches a catalytic surface. A resistance change occurs due to heat and an alarm is set off.
false alarm may be caused by a few things including its proximity to fuel-burning appliances, exposure to humidity, or the low quality of the device itself. As the detector works to keep you and your home safe, the slightest environmental changes may cause more worry than peace of mind.
This could be due to a faulty device, old batteries, or just dust buildup in the unit itself. It's better to be safe than sorry. If your alarm sounds, it's important to call emergency responders. They can tell you if you're experiencing a false alarm.
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.
Even if an alarm stops, do not reenter until authorities verify the home is safe. Movement within the home, open doors, and windows may reduce the carbon monoxide build-up but does not eliminate the source or leak. Emergency responders will determine the cause of carbon monoxide and advise you on the next steps.
Signs of a carbon monoxide leak in your house or home
Stale, stuffy, or smelly air, like the smell of something burning or overheating. Soot, smoke, fumes, or back-draft in the house from a chimney, fireplace, or other fuel burning equipment. The lack of an upward draft in chimney flue. Fallen soot in fireplaces.
The Combustible Gas Leak Detector Pen is extremely sensitive, with a detection range of 0 to 100% lower explosive limit. Its low alarm level is 20±5% and 50±10%, with the high alarm level being greater than 50±10%.
However, cheap poorly-made carbon monoxide alarms can be triggered by various other gases such as hydrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, petrol fumes, vapors of ethyl, methyl, and isopropyl alcohol, acetylene, dimethyl sulfide, and nitrogen dioxide.
Will a carbon monoxide detector detect a gas leak? Technically speaking, a carbon monoxide detector is not designed to detect the presence of gas.
At the time of the MTTF the probability of failure is 63 %.
If your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm becomes contaminated by excessive dirt, dust or grime, and cannot be cleaned, you should replace the detector immediately. You may have placed your smoke and CO alarms in an area prone to false alarms, so relocate the detector if it sounds frequent unwanted alarms.
Dirt, dust and water impact. These physical affects can block gases and vapours from entering the sensor chamber preventing detection of the gases. This can be either within the sensor area, sampling pump or sample lines.
Typical Construction of an Electrochemical Sensor
Electrochemical sensors for common gases such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulphide have an operational life typically stated at 2-3 years. More exotic gas sensors such as those for hydrogen fluoride may have a life of only 12-18 months.
If the batteries in a backup ignition module begin to die, the gas fireplace may beep. Therefore, you should consider replacing the batteries if you hear a beeping sound originating from your gas fireplace. Most backup ignition modules require two D-cell batteries.
Signs of a Gas Leak
Foul odors like sulfur or rotten eggs. Hissing or whistling sound near a gas line. White or dust cloud near a gas line. Bubbles in puddles in the yard.
Gas companies add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give it its distinctive “rotten egg” smell.
The most common causes of carbon monoxide building up are incorrectly installed or poorly maintained or ventilated appliances – like stoves and hot water heaters. Poorly ventilated fireplaces and other gas- or wood-burning appliances can also pose danger.
gas cookers and clay ovens. gas or paraffin heaters. wood, gas and coal fires.
You can die at this exposure level within 2 to 3 hours.
Opening windows does not provide enough ventilation to be protective. CO is an invisible, odorless gas that can be fatal. If you breathe in a lot of CO gas, it can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping or drunk can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms.
Carbon monoxide is a gas that has no odor, color or taste. You wouldn't be able to see or smell it, but it can be very dangerous to your health and even fatal.
To warn of dangerous CO levels, most detectors will beep 4 or 5 times in a row about every 4 seconds.