La durée de vie des détecteurs de monoxyde de carbone sera une question qui nous déroutera une fois que nous commencerons à les utiliser., because it is not so easy to perceive its dying in daily life. This blog will help you know its common lifespan, checking method, dying symptom and suggested replacing frequency. So let’s dive into it.
Types of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Before talking about how long do carbon monoxide detectors last, we first introduce categories because different types come with different lifespans.
Electrochemical type: It is mainly based on the principle of electrochemistry. Carbon monoxide is converted into an electric current via a chemical reaction, so the concentration of carbon monoxide can be measured according to the current signal .
Semiconductor type: It takes advantage of the semiconductor material’s sensitivity to carbon monoxide. When carbon monoxide comes into contact with a semiconductor material, its resistance value is changed to reflect its concentration.
Infrared absorption type: It is based on the absorption properties of carbon monoxide to infrared light. The concentration of carbon monoxide is measured by attenuation of infrared light after passing through the gas.
Catalytic combustion type: It mainly uses the principle of catalytic combustion. Carbon monoxide is burned under the action of a catalyst. And its concentration is measured by measuring the heat or electrical signal generated by the combustion.
Solid electrolyte type: When carbon monoxide contact with a solid electrolyte, its conductivity changes. For measuring CO thickness, the device takes advantage of the sensitivity of the solid electrolyte towards carbon monoxide.
How Long Do Carbon Monoxide Detectors Last？
| Taper | Lifespan(Claimed) | Remark |
| Electrochemical | 1-3 année | Depends on the environment |
| Semiconductor | 3-5 année | Depends on the materials, environment and maintenance |
| Infrared absorption | 5 année | Depends on infrared filter and environment |
| Catalytic combustion | 10 année | Depends on the quality assurance of the device |
| Solid electrolyte | 5 année | Depends on the environment, gas concentration and operation habit |
How Do I Check If My Carbon Monoxide Detector Is Dying?
In addition to estimating its life according to the information claimed by the supplier, we can also determine whether it is dying through some practice operations.
Sounding Carbon Monoxide Detector Beeping
If the machine has a self-check button, we can press it and listen to the sound. If the alarm sound of the device becomes intermittent or erratic, it may mean that its power supply is unstable or there is a problem with the sensor. Même, some devices emit a higher pitch when they fail or when the power is draining.
Checking Indicator and Display
En outre, if its fault indicator is blinking and accompanied by a buzzer, there is a high probability that it is dying.When the sensor of the detector is faulty or the battery is low, the yellow indicator may also blink or be steady on to remind the user to take appropriate maintenance measures. Aussi, the green light going off may mean that the detector is not working properly. Ou, there is a problem with the power supply.
Testing By Carbon Monoxide
If the device does not come with a self-check button, we can simulate the generation of CO to check the status of the device. Especially there is a situation when the indicator is yellow or the green light is out.
We can buy a bottle of standard CO gas, which is from a reliable source and meets safety standards. In a well-ventilated area, we release the gas near the detector. At this moment, we observe whether the detector alerts in time.
Why Do Carbon Monoxide Detectors Expire?
Carbon monoxide detectors usually come with chemical sensors to detect the presence of carbon monoxide. These sensors gradually age over time, causing them to become less sensitive in nature. En plus, the environment in which the carbon monoxide detector is located also has an impact on its service life. Par exemple, a high temperature, humid or corrosive environment may accelerate the aging process of the sensor. What’s more, many carbon monoxide detectors use batteries as a power source. Over time, the depletion of the battery caused the fault of detector. Donc, it is necessary to check and replace the battery regularly to ensure the continuous operation of the detector.
How Long Do Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries Last?
| Battery * Life time | 2 pcs AA for 3 années | 3 pcs AA for 2 années | Lithium battery for 10 années | Lithium CR123A for 5 années |
| Marque | Heiman | Jikaida | Kidde | X-sense |
| Product Code | HM-723ESY | JM-JKD-601 | C3010 | XC01-R |
| Taper | Electrochemical | Electrochemical | Electrochemical | Electrochemical |
Generally, among the common CO detector battery on the market, the battery life of the lithium battery is generally longer than that of the dry battery. Lithium batteries can usually support the device for 5-10 années, while dry batteries can only support the device for 2-3 années.
Do Carbon Monoxide Detectors Go Off For No Reason?
It’s possible. Due to the natural failure of the chemical reaction material the natural aging of the electronic components, CO detector will go off for neither environmental reasons nor human factors. So it is very necessary to carefully understand the above How Long Do Carbon Monoxide Detectors Last and How Do I Check If My Carbon Monoxide Detector Is Dying.
How Often to Replace Your Carbon Monoxide Detector?
To ensure safety, we should replace carbon monoxide detectors regularly. We usually recommend replacement after 5 to 7 years of use.
Replace Your Carbon Monoxide Alarms Before They Expire
Now let’s replace carbon monoxide alarms before they expire by following steps.
First, we prepare the screwdrivers as well as the new carbon monoxide detector. Before replacement, please turn off the power supply to ensure the electricity safety. Suivant, we remove the old detector by screwdriver. During the disassembly process, be careful not to damage the surrounding walls or lines.
Alors, we install new detectors. We fixed the new carbon monoxide detector in place according to the instructions. Bien sûr, the sensor part of the detector should be fully exposed to air so as to accurately detect carbon monoxide concentrations. The next step is to connect the new carbon monoxide detector to a power source.
Enfin, we turn on the power and test whether the new detector is working properly.
Q&UN
What Does A Carbon Monoxide Detector Do?
The main function of carbon monoxide detector is to detect the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. It sends an alarm when the concentration reaches dangerous levels.
As we all know, if human inhales excessive carbon monoxide, a type of colorless, insipide, non-irritating gas, he will get poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors can help humans monitor the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air in real time, which is difficult to see and smell. In case the concentration exceeds the preset safety value, the detector will issue an audible and visual alarm to remind people to take timely ventilation measures. This greatly reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in the early stages of an accident. Donc, carbon monoxide detectors play an important role in ensuring home safety.
What Are the Main Sources of Carbon Monoxide In A Home?
- Insufficient combustion of fuel in coal stoves, gas stoves, and gas water heaters
- A large amount of CO will release directly if the cooking personnel leave the kitchen with the gas stove on and if the boiling food spills and the fire of the gas stove.
- Gas leakage from pipe, loose gas valve
- Indoor smoking
- Insufficient combustion of charcoal, liquefied gas or solid alcohol fuels in heating equipment
Where Should You Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors?
Carbon monoxide detectors can usually be mounted on walls rather than ceilings. Considering the characteristics of carbon monoxide gas and the height of people’s activities, we recommend to put it on the height of 0.3 to 0.6 meters from the ground. Entre-temps, there should be no less than 0.3 meters of space around the detector for easy maintenance and overhaul.
In general families, we can consider installing carbon monoxide sensors in bedrooms, kitchens, salons, and areas where gas equipment is used.
