The first step in carbon monoxide alarm installation is choosing which type of detector you wish to install. The first option you have is choosing between a carbon monoxide monitor and a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide detectors work a lot like smoke alarms and alert you when a high level of carbon monoxide is present in the air. However, long-term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can be just as dangerous, and carbon monoxide detectors are unable to detect these low levels. Carbon monoxide monitors, however, give you a digital readout of the carbon monoxide so you can monitor it no matter how much or how little there is in the air. If you would like to ensure that you are able to keep up with the amount of carbon monoxide in the air, carbon monoxide monitor installation is an excellent option to consider.

Other options include a dual-function carbon monoxide detector which is able to detect both smoke and carbon monoxide, a battery operated carbon monoxide detector, which is the most affordable option but also the most prone to malfunction, or a hard-wired carbon monoxide detector/monitor which is connected to your home’s electricity and is much more reliable.

Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed on every level of your home about five feet from the floor. You should also place detectors near each sleeping area so that you will be able to hear them when you are asleep in the event of an emergency. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be placed in your garage because if a vehicle is left running the carbon monoxide can quickly spread to inside the house.

The first step to knowing that your carbon monoxide detector is working properly is to have the CO detector installation performed by an experienced Los Angeles electrician.  Once your carbon monoxide detector has been installed, you can check to make sure that it is working by holding down the “test” button until you hear two beeps. Once you hear two beeps, release the button and then hold it down again, this time listening for four beeps. If you hear four beeps the second time, the detector is functioning properly.

The number of carbon monoxide detectors that the state of California dictates you must have installed in your home depends on the size and layout of your dwelling. California building codes require homes to have carbon monoxide detectors on every floor and outside every sleeping area. They also require carbon monoxide detectors to be placed in attached garages and in rooms with fuel-fired appliances.

You can test your carbon monoxide detector by pressing the “test” button and listening for two beeps. Once you hear two beeps, release the button and press it again. If you hear four beeps, the detector is functioning properly.

A carbon monoxide detector that continually beeps could mean several different things depending on the model of the detector. For battery powered detectors, low batteries is the most likely issue. Consistent beeping could also mean that the detector is malfunctioning or that it has reached the end of its life-cycle. Try replacing your batteries if you have a battery powered model, and if this doesn’t work consult our electrician in Los Angeles to fix the problem.

Most carbon monoxide detectors are only good for 5-7 years before they reach the end of their life-cycle and will need to be replaced.

Unfortunately, carbon monoxide detectors are only able to detect carbon monoxide and not natural gas leaks.

Carbon monoxide is completely odorless and almost impossible to detect. This is why it’s so important to have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home. The only symptoms of carbon monoxide in your home are the effects you feel when you have carbon monoxide poisoning. These symptoms include dull headaches, weakness, nausea, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.

If you experience symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is crucial to get to a hospital as quickly as possible. After you have been treated, contact a qualified & licensed electrician to fix the problem before you or anyone else returns to the house.