Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Could Have Expired, and You Don’t Even Know It

A carbon monoxide detector is extremely important because it alerts you if carbon monoxide is present which is a deadly gas that has no smell. These detectors have small alarms installed within them and they can be plugged into a wall or installed in a ceiling. You should also test the detector every month to make sure that it is working properly. You also want to see if it has an expiration date as well as that will make it not work.

Key Takeaways:

First, you should remember to test your carbon monoxide detector every month. There should be instructions on your particular device on how to perform a test.
Toward the end of its life, it may start emitting a noise that means the device is no longer working. If you have a detector certified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), this feature is a requirement.
Most detectors expire at ten years, but every device is different, so prepare a backup before the time comes.

“Carbon monoxide detectors are small alarms plugged into a wall, installed in the ceiling, or sometimes combined with smoke detectors.”