Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Click here for vital health safety information on the dangers of carbon monoxide.

New York City law requires that every home and apartment must be equipped with carbon monoxide (CO) detector alarms. Protect your family by installing and properly maintaining CO detector alarms. A working alarm provides an early warning, before deadly gases build up.

  • Change batteries in your CO and smoke alarms this weekend when you move your clocks ahead on Sunday, March 9 for Daylight Saving Time.
  • The law requires that CO detecto alarms must have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Mark.
  • Units must operate on batteries alone, on electric by a plug-in type with a battery back-up, or are hardwired to the electric with a battery back-up and must be installed within 15 feet of the primary entrance to all sleeping areas.
  • Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are permitted, but the unit must be hard-wired. if it is replacing a hard-wired smoke alarm. Consider installing interconnected smoke alarms so that when one alarm senses smoke and sounds, they are all triggered throughout your home.
  • Install a CO detector alarm with a digital display that indicates the CO level on each floor of your home, in bedrooms or sleeping areas if you sleep with closed doors, and in the area of any fuel-burning appliance such as a furnace or water heater (more than 5 feet away).
  • Do not install a CO detector alarm near a ceiling fan, in rooms with long term exposure to steam or humidity, within 5 feet of any cooking or fuel appliance, or near substances that emit vapors, such as paints and thinners, adhesives, strong perfumes, plug-in and aerosol air fresheners and cleaning solvents with strong odors such as pine.
  • People often remove or disconnect batteries to prevent nuisance activation caused by vapors. Rather than take the battery out, silence the alarm by pushing the reset or silence button, and open windows to ventilate.
  • If anyone in the household is feeling ill with flu-like symptoms, or if the alarm is activated, evacuate the household to a safe location and call 911 with address, symptoms, and the CO level reading on the detector is equipped with a digital display.
  • Every Spring and Fall when you change your clocks, remember to change your alarm batteries.
  • CO detector alarms have test buttons. Test the alarms at least once a month, even if your alarm uses a long-life battery or is powered by household electricity.
  • A chirping sound every 30 to 60 seconds is a warning that the battery is low. Some alarms have visual indicator, typically a flashing red light labeled battery or service. Replace the battery immediately. If the CO detector alarm is malfunctioning, replace the unit immediately.
  • Replace CO detector alarms every 5 to 7 years.
  • Use only the type of batteries recommended on the detector.
  • Always follow the manufacturer's directions for installation and maintenance.
  • Clean alarms regularly by dusting or vacuuming.
  • Never paint over alarms.
  • Make sure everyone in your home recognize the CO detection signs- a pattern of 4 short beeps every 5 seconds and a red flashing light on the face of the unit.
  • Make sure eveyone can be awakened by the sound of the alarm. Some children and the elderly may not readily awake to the sound of alarms.
  • Install and maintain smoke alarms. Installing carbon monoxide detector alarms do not eliminate the need for smoke alarms. CO detectors do not sense smoke and smoke alarms do not sense CO gas. <more>

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