Carbon monoxide sensors are an essential safety device in any home that that has a boiler, gas fire or stove burning other fuels. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that can kill you quickly. It is called the "silent killer" because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non- irritating. If the early signs of CO poisoning are ignored, a person may lose consciousness and be unable to escape the danger.
In the UK, carbon monoxide poisoning in the home accounts for about 50 recorded deaths per year and around 4000 medical visits, according to the Department of Health. The modern trend of installing wood-burning stoves make the problem particularly bad in the UK.
A connected CO sensor or alarm can benefit from all the advantages of the smart home, such as notifications, voice announcements and the ability to sound an alarm throughout the house.
You only need CO sensors in your home if you have boilers, heaters or cookers that burn fossil fuels (gas, coal, pellets, etc.). They will also be useful in homes that are essentially air tight.
People are most vulnerable to the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning whilst sleep., so it is important to place an alarm near your family's bedrooms. If you only have one CO alarm, place it as close to everyone's sleeping area as possible.
Ideally, carbon monoxide detectors should also be placed close to source of carbon monoxide, such as boilers. If you live in a multi-story home, be sure to place at least one carbon monoxide detector on each level. If your boiler is located in the basement, ensure a CO detector is installed there.
