Carbon monoxide poisoning is an issue that should be taken seriously. To protect your family, you should install carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home so alarms are audible from sleeping areas. You know that carbon monoxide detectors are important, but do you know which type is best for you? This ultimate guide to buying the right type of detector should help you make your final decision.

There are two main types of carbon monoxide detectors, though there are dozens of brands and styles available today. The first type operates on a household current while the second type is battery-powered. Each has specific sensor types and characteristics to consider.

Household Current
These usually feature a solid-state sensor that periodically samples the air for traces of carbon monoxide. This sensor cycling uses more power, but because it automatically measures air samples, reaction time to any carbon monoxide in the air is incredibly quick and reliable. There is also a display screen so information can be viewed easily.

These carbon monoxide detectors can be challenging to install because they either need to be placed near an outlet or hard wired into the home’s circuitry. However, once installed, they require zero maintenance for 5-10 years. If carbon monoxide is detected, household current detectors reset themselves immediately after the problem has been corrected.

Battery-Operated
These use a passive sensor, which reacts to prolonged carbon monoxide exposure. You will still be alerted to the presence of carbon monoxide before it can cause you any harm, but to reset the unit you may need to remove the sensor pack. There is also usually no display information available.

Installing a battery-powered detector is easy because the batteries allow the detector to be installed anywhere. These detectors require battery and sensor module replacement every two to three years.

Now that you understand the basic differences between the two main types of carbon monoxide detectors, you can decide which is best for you. Learn more by contacting Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating in Los Angeles.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about carbon monoxide detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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