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Consumer Reports: Carbon Monoxide Detectors

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Oct 12, 2009 5:45 pm US/Eastern

Consumer Reports: Carbon Monoxide Detectors

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Nearly 500 Americans die from carbon-monoxide poisoning each year and more than 15,000 end up in emergency rooms. Faulty heating appliances and blocked chimneys and vents are usually to blame. Consumer Reports just tested some devices could save your life in the event of a leak.

Meg Watt lost her brother Michael and three of his friends to carbon-monoxide poisoning.

"I had never known that you should have a detector. And Michael didn't either and, unfortunately, paid the ultimate price for that," Meg Watt.

A carbon-monoxide alarm can help make sure you stay safe. Consumer Reports tested 10 to see how quickly they'll alert you to low-level and high-level leaks.

Most of the alarms tested are just for carbon monoxide, but a couple are combined with a smoke alarm.

"Keep in mind that while smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, but carbon-monoxide alarms should be replaced after five," Dan DiClerico said.

That means you need to replace a combination alarm every five years. That's five years from the date on the back of the alarm.

It's also important to have a carbon-monoxide detector on each level of your house - the basement, ground floor and the upper level.

"It's a good idea to get interconnecting alarms that signal each other. That way you'll be warned about a leak in the basement even if you're asleep upstairs," DiClerico said.

Among inter-connected detectors, the First Alert ONELINK earned top ratings. It Is battery operated and costs $70.

Among stand alone models, Consumer Reports says the First Alert model is a good choice. It plugs into the wall and has battery backup.

At just $40 dollars, the model is also considered a Consumer Reports best buy. Also recommended: a Kidde Nighthawk model that sells for $45.

"A stand-alone alarm is probably fine if you live in a small, one-story home or an apartment," DiClerico said.

Consumer Reports says be aware inter-connected carbon-monoxide alarms usually only communicate with alarms made by the same company. So if you're installing several carbon-monoxide alarms, check to be sure they are all compatible with each other.

Tested Recommended Units:

Kiddie PI2000 – Consumer Reports Best Buy – smoke alarm connects to home wiring or existing alarm system and has battery backup. Cost: $30.

BRK 7010B – smoke alarm that includes a battery backup and can be interconnected with other BRK alarms and some First Alert alarms. Cost: $25.

First Alert SA302A – battery powered dual sensor smoke alarm. Cost: $25.

Kiddie PI9000 – battery powered dual sensor smoke alarm. Cost: $23.

First Alert SA9120BCN – Ionization model smoke alarm that hardwires into home and has battery backup. Cost: $15.

BRK 7010B – photoelectric model smoke alarm that hardwires into home and has battery backup. Cost: $25.

First Alert OneLink SC0501CN – Interconnected model. Cost: $70.

First Alert OneLine CO511B - Interconnected model. Cost: $83.

Kiddie Silhouette KN-COPF-1 - Interconnected model. Cost: $60.

First Alert CO615 – stand alone model. Cost: $40.

Kiddie Nighthawk KN-COPP-3 - stand alone model. Cost: $45.

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