Why is my carbon monoxide detector beeping at me?

Smoke alarms alert you with three beeps in a row. Carbon monoxide alarms alert you with four beeps. A single chirp means the battery is low or the detector should be replaced.

What causes false CO alarms?

CO alarms become erratic once expired. This is the most common reason for false alarms. Excessive moisture from a bathroom may set off your CO alarm. CO alarms should not be installed in areas with excessive steam.

What does CO mean on a gas monitor?

A carbon monoxide detector or CO detector is a device that detects the presence of the carbon monoxide (CO) gas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

How often should you change the batteries in your CO detector?

every 6 months
If your carbon monoxide detector has replaceable batteries, they should be changed at least every 6 months. Although you replace the batteries, carbon monoxide alarms don’t last forever. They have a lifetime of 5 to 7 years, but it is important to refer to your user manual.

How do I stop my carbon monoxide alarm from beeping in the end-of-life?

Your detector may be reaching its end-of-life cycle, and may need to be replaced. Many carbon monoxide and smoke detectors come with a “Hush” feature, which will stop the beeping for 72 hours. To silence the beeping, press and hold the “Hush” or “Test” button.

What else can set off a carbon monoxide detector?

Any fuel-burning appliance that is malfunctioning or improperly installed. Furnaces, gas range/stove, gas clothes dryer, water heater, portable fuel-burning space heaters, fireplaces, generators and wood burning stoves. Vehicles, generators and other combustion engines running in an attached garage.

What to do if carbon monoxide detector goes off and then stops?

Call 911 immediately and report that the alarm has gone off. Do not assume it is safe to reenter the home when the alarm stops. When you open windows and doors, it helps diminish the amount of carbon monoxide in the air, but the source may still be producing the gas.

How accurate are carbon monoxide detectors?

There are more than 38 million residential carbon monoxide detectors installed in the United States. We tested 30 detectors in use and found that more than half failed to function properly, alarming too early or too late.

How do I test my carbon monoxide detector?

To test a carbon monoxide detector, hold down the “test” button until you hear two beeps sound off. Once you hear these beeps, release your finger off the test button. Recreate this event, but this time hold down the test button until you hear four beeps.