Test At Least Twice a YearTest your carbon monoxide detector! Carbon monoxide is invisible, odorless and can lead to serious—sometimes even fatal—consequences upon exposure. Proactively inspecting your CO detector will ensure you’re protected should you find yourself dealing with a leak.
When functioning properly, a carbon monoxide detector warns you whenever there’s an improperly burning gas heater or a blocked chimney.
We typically like to test your carbon monoxide detector twice a year, but we recommend that you perform a couple inspections on your own as well.
Instructions on how to check and test your carbon monoxide detector can be found in the manufacturer’s guide. It’s also worth noting that these alarms have a limited lifetime, so you’ll want to make sure you know its expiration date well before the time arrives.
If you haven’t already, now would be a great time to explore your home and ensure your smoke detectors are:
While doing this, you can take an extra step and see how effective your smoke alarms are. While testing each smoke detector, get another person in the household to stand in a different room. This will ensure that the alarm is working and that it’s audible in different areas of your home.
Similarly, your carbon monoxide (CO) detector warns you of the presence of this colourless, odorless and very poisonous gas in your home. CO typically originates from a blocked chimney or an improperly burning gas heater. After testing the device, it’s recommended that you check all possible sources of CO. It’s also worth noting that your CO detectors should be in proximity to possible sources of the gas.
It’s a good idea to check these alarms at least twice per year. If any of your detectors are not working then replace the batteries and test them again. If they are still unresponsive, replacing the detector should be your next step.
In addition, you should be replacing your detectors every five to six years, so try to keep a record of how old your detectors are. You never know when you’ll need them to perform, so take some time to make sure all CO and smoke detectors are working.
If you have any questions on how to test your carbon monoxide detector, do not hesitate to reach out to us. The helpful staff at Butler Plumbing is always here to offer any information or advice to help you out.