What design features will an effective Carbon Monoxide Gas detector possess?
What design features will an effective Carbon Monoxide Gas detector possess?
Preferred Co sensors should contain an audible alarm and be have British Standards certification. You will need to empty the room quickly if levels of Carbon Monoxide rise and you don’t want to have to keep checking the battery condition. As a result buy a detector with an audible, ear piercing alarm and a long battery life (aim for 5 years). Less effective electronic sensors work on the principle where a dyed spot on a cardboard detector changes colour over time when Co is detected. Chemical Co electronic detectors loose their effectiveness after 6 months and have to be changed, this increases the lifespan cost and puts you at risk if you forget to change the detector when it has expired. Most importantly the lack of an audible alarm means that this type of detector will not wake you is there is an excess of Co produced when you are asleep at night. Many types of shops carry these electronic sensors and smoke alarms also.
Can the general public buy Co sensors?
Co electronic detectors can be very effective early warning devices alerting families of rising Co levels. Several different and relatively inexpensive electronic sensors are available in stores. Carbon Monoxide sensors are designed to react to the accumulation of the gas over time. The technology for these detectors is still developing, they are not considered as reliable as the smoke electronic sensors you use in your home. Your best protection against exposure to Carbon Monoxide Gas is the regular servicing of your gas burning appliances. A Co detector will only ever be a backup measure.
Check your Carbon Monoxide sensors frequently
As with all safety equipment a detector should be tried out throughout the year to make sure that it is functioning effectively. The manufacturer’s instructions should give you the outline of how to test or service the detector. Test Co alarms at least once a month and change them according to the service instructions if found to be defective. The ‘test’ feature on many electronic detectors checks the performance of the alarm and not the status of the detector. After forty-eight months (2 years) some electronic detectors may need to be replaced and you should check how long your detector will operate. There are electronic detectors on sale which can operate for 60 months In addition to battery types there are some that are mains powered and have battery backup to cover power failures. The choice is yours. There are combined detectors sold which combine smoke and Carbon Monoxide electronic sensors 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 advantages of installing a Co detector in your home
Without an installed Carbon Monoxide detector your household would have no warning of rising Co levels in the room. Properly installed detectors monitor Co levels over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms of poisoning. Smoke detectors are installed near the ceiling as smoke rises, this is not true of Co and hence these sensors can be installed lower on the wall. You need a Carbon Monoxide Gas detector to wake you whilst sleeping if Carbon Monoxide Gas is detected so detectors should be sited where the alarm can be heard from the bedrooms.