What characteristics should I seek in a Carbon Monoxide electronic detector?
What characteristics should I seek in a Carbon Monoxide electronic detector?
Recommended detectors are kite marked to British Standard and have an audible alarm. 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 hearable, ear piercing alarm and a long battery life (aim for 5 years). Less effective electronic detectors work on the principle where a dyed spot on a cardboard detector changes colour over time when Co is detected. Chemical Carbon Monoxide Gas electronic sensors 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. Most importantly the lack of an hearable alarm means that this type of detector will not wake you is there is an excess of Carbon Monoxide produced when you are asleep at night. In addition to do it yourself stores carrying these electronic sensors you may be able to purchase an approved model from your utility company.
Can the general public purchase Carbon Monoxide detectors?
Domestic Carbon Monoxide Gas poisoning can be prevented by the use of home Carbon Monoxide Gas electronic sensors. These days these are several types of detector available in the local shops. Co electronic detectors are designed to react to the accumulation of the gas over time. The engineering in Co electronic sensors is not yet as reliable as that used in smoke electronic detectors but it is becoming more so over time. You should ensure you have regular servicing of your appliances and treat your Co detector as a secondary, backup measure. It is not your first line of defence.
The operation of Co electronic detectors must be checked frequently
A detector should be tried out several times each the year to make certain that it is functioning as designed. 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 working satisfactorily, change it if any faults are found. When you use the ‘test’ button on the detector you need to be aware that you will be testing the alarm functionality rather than the gas detector. Read the instructions for the lifespan of the detector, often it is as short as two years. Some detectors last up to five years and operate off the mains or battery. You will need to select a model that meets your needs. To save space there are combination smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors sold, you should check the manufacturer installation instructions for how to install these.
The benefits of installing a Carbon Monoxide Gas detector
The installation of Carbon Monoxide detectors give a warning to people in a building of unhealthy or dangerous levels of Co before the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Gas poisoning occur. The levels at which Co electronic sensors are set off are measured against the level of gas that would start to harm a healthy adult. As such you need to act quickly when children could have been exposed to the emissions as they can be harmed by lower levels of the gas. Smoke electronic sensors are installed near the ceiling as smoke rises, this is not true of Co and hence these electronic sensors can be installed lower on the wall. For maximum effectiveness during sleeping hours, Carbon Monoxide Gas detectors should be placed close to sleeping areas.