Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Having a carbon monoxide detector in your home is not only instrumental in avoiding health dangers, but it also provides peace of mind that you’ll always know if a leak occurs.
Read on to learn more about what you should do if your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, the difference between beeping signals, and how to prevent carbon monoxide dangers.
What Do You Do If Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Is Beeping?
If you hear your carbon monoxide alarm beeping, IMMEDIATELY leave your home. Exposure to carbon monoxide can quickly lead to poisoning, heart disease, and even fatalities. Keep your family safe by getting everyone (including your fur babies!) outside into the fresh air as soon as the alarm starts beeping. Call 911, and don’t re-enter your home until your local emergency responders tell you it’s safe to do so.
The Dangers Of Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas that emits from powering household items or equipment with charcoal, wood, gas, or oil. If it spreads through your home, your family’s health and home are at high risk. As mentioned, inhalation of carbon monoxide can lead to CO poisoning, heart disease, and potentially even fatalities. CO poisoning is the most common result of carbon monoxide exposure which can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, confusion, and shortness of breath. You should go to the hospital immediately if you have any of these symptoms and believe or know you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide.
However, there are some things you can do to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from happening. These include 1). making sure your appliances are running how they should on an annual basis, 2). cleaning your chimney (if applicable) once a year, 3). running vehicles, lawnmowers, or other equipment outside instead of in an enclosed space, and 4). keeping your home’s vents unblocked by furniture and/or other items. Of course, it’s still possible for CO to spread throughout a home which is why installing carbon monoxide detectors to catch any leaks or levels of CO is so important.
Types Of Carbon Monoxide Alarm Beeps
There are a couple of different reasons why your carbon monoxide detector might be beeping. Various beeping signals from your detector have different meanings. Know the difference between an emergency signal and just a battery warning when your carbon monoxide alarm is going off.
4 Beeps And A Pause
This alarm sequence means an emergency. When the system detects a dangerous level of carbon monoxide, four beeps followed by a quick pause of silence will begin sounding on repeat. This type of carbon monoxide alarm beeping should be followed by the immediate exit of your home and a call to 911.
1 Beep Every Minute
This intermittent alarm means your carbon monoxide detector is running on a low battery. This warning alarm is only one beep every 60 or so seconds. This type of carbon monoxide alarm beeping will subside once the batteries have been changed and doesn’t require a 911 call. To avoid this beeping altogether, plan a time to change your carbon monoxide detector’s batteries every six months.
5 Beeps Every Minute
This alarm sequence means your detector as a whole will need replacement soon. This alarm is signaling that the system is on its last leg of life by chirping five times every 60 or so seconds. This carbon monoxide alarm going off will typically happen if your detector is 5-7 years old (the average lifespan of a carbon monoxide detector). If this alarm occurs, there is no need to call 911. Simply replace the detector as soon as possible so you can continue monitoring CO levels in your home.
Help Protect What Matters Most With SafeStreets
Knowing the different alarms and responding appropriately will help you avoid carbon monoxide sickness and keep your family and home safe. ADT-monitored carbon monoxide detectors from SafeStreets give this silent killer a voice that can save lives. You can rest easy knowing that nothing in your home is how it shouldn’t be with electrochemical sensors that detect carbon monoxide poisoning even at its lowest levels. Plus, you’ll never have to guess at the meaning of your carbon monoxide alarm going off again. Whenever one of our carbon monoxide detectors detects a leak, you will receive instant notifications on all your connected devices. And with 24/7 ADT monitoring, ADT professionals will be there to dispatch emergency responders to your home for assistance if your sensors are triggered.
Get complete protection of your home and family when you install SafeStreets carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Call us today to learn more about our carbon monoxide detectors and get a free quote.
