What features should I look to in a Carbon Monoxide sensor?
What features should I look to in a Carbon Monoxide sensor?
Ensure that the electronic detector you get is kite marked to British Standards and has a easily heard alarm. Such alarms have long lasting batteries (five years) and the alarm is tripped when abnormal levels of Carbon Monoxide Gas are detected enabling people to escape the area. Less effective electronic sensors work on the principle where a colored spot on a cardboard detector changes colour over time when Co is detected. Chemical Carbon Monoxide electronic detectors loose their effectiveness after six months and have to be changed, this increases the lifetime cost and puts you at risk if you forget to change the detector when it has expired. The lack of the audible alarm in a chemical detector means that this type of alarm cannot alert you at night when you are asleep. Both types of alarms are now commonly available in DIY stores.
Are Carbon Monoxide Gas electronic detectors available in the shops?
Accumulated exposure to Co can lead to death and Co detectors can give early warning of Carbon Monoxide Gas production in the home. Several types of detector are now becoming available in DIY shops and the supermarket chains. The gradual accumulation of Carbon Monoxide gas over time will lead to the detector being set off. Carbon Monoxide Gas detector engineering can not be relied upon to the same level as that in smoke detectors at this time but the gap is being closed. You should always ensure you have a proper maintenance schedule for your appliances, having a Carbon Monoxide detector does not enable you to save on regular appliance servicing.
Co sensors should be frequently checked
Make a note to test your detector on a regular basis to ensure it is working. The manufacturer’s instructions should give you the outline of how to test or service the detector. Check your detector each month to check that it is functioning satisfactorily, change it if any faults are found. The ‘test’ feature on many detectors checks the performance of the alarm and not the status of the detector. Read the instructions for the lifespan of the detector, often it is as short as two years. Some electronic sensors last up to 5 years and operate off the mains or battery. You will need to select a model that meets your needs. There are combined electronic sensors sold which combine smoke and Carbon Monoxide Gas detectors within the same case. These may have specific installation instructions as advised by the manufacturer and you should pay particular attention as to how these should be installed.
The benefits of installing a Co detector
Without an installed Carbon Monoxide Gas detector your family would have no warning of rising Co levels in the room. Carbon Monoxide Gas alarms will sound the alarm before the concentrations of gas have reached the levels where an adult would be effected. Unlike smoke detectors, they do not need to be placed near ceiling level. Make sure that you will be woken should your Carbon Monoxide detector go off whilst you are asleep. Install the alarm near your sleeping areas.