A carbon monoxide detector CO gas detector is an essential device which detects the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) gas and alerts you to dangerous levels.
CO gas is often referred to as a silent killer as it is colourless tasteless and odourless and virtually undetectable by humans. it is essential that a carbon monoxide detector is used in order to alert you if you have a CO leak in your property.
Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm?
If you live in a property that is completely powered by Electric you will not need a detector, but if you have any fuel-burning equipment such as a boiler, fire or stove that uses gas, oil or wood then you will need to have a detector in every room where the fuel is used.
Carbon Monoxide Detector cost
A good quality carbon monoxide detector can vary massively in price, it is important to buy one that is Reliable and produced by a well-known manufacturer. it is worth doing some research and reading reviews before purchasing your detector.
You find a range of different alarms priced between £15 to £20.
Different Types of Alarms
There are several different types of alarms available whichever one you choose to buy depends on your circumstances. the main difference is detectors that sound an alarm when dangerous levels are detected or you can buy detector patches that change colour when CO is detected.
Although patch carbon monoxide detectors are generally the cheapest option you should consider the fact that’s if CEO gas is being released then the patch will only change colour and not sound an alarm to alert you. consider if a leak occurred during the night a colour change would not wake you and allow you to exit the property. it is highly recommended that alarm detector is available as it is the safest option and gives the biggest chance of survival.
Again there are several options with detective that sound an alarm, these mainly change around how the device is powered. some units can be plugged in and you can just leave them and check yearly, other devices run on batteries and will often sound a beep when the batteries need replacing, it is recommended that you check regularly to ensure the device is working correctly.
What to do if your alarm sounds
If your carbon monoxide detector alarm goes off you should immediately turn off all appliances or sources of combustion, open all doors and windows to get fresh air into the premises ideally exit the building completely. next, you need to call a qualified electrician to come and check all your appliances and fix any issues that caused the alarm to sound.