My house carbon monoxide alarm keeps going off?

Question

It has gone off 3 times this week. Should I be worried? It has been 3 hours since the garage was open.

Answer 1

Better get it checked by the fire department. When my grandson & I came home a couple years ago I heard my carbon monoxide alarm going off as soon as I parked the car in the driveway. The dispatcher said she would send someone immediately, but in the meantime we were supposed to go outside for our own safety "just in case". It was winter, we'd just had a snowfall, and it was freezing, but at least the car was still warm. When the firemen got there they told my grandson to stay in the car but had me come in to show them where the alarm was. I had already checked the battery before calling, but they took it out again. Even though it was a relatively new battery they replaced it with another. The alarm still kept going off. It was placed on a wall fairly close to the closet where the furnace was. They checked that out thoroughly to make sure there was no leak. Then one guy went through the entire house with a monitor checking each room. Another one inspected my gas stove and my water heater. They couldn't find anything wrong and said it must have been a defective alarm. They suggested I get another one and also have my plumber/electrician come in to reinspect the furnace if the new one went off. They were there almost 2 hrs. but I felt a lot safer when they left. My grandson, however, was frozen from staying in the car.

Better get it checked ASAP--carbon monoxide, as you probably know, is odorless and colorless. You won't know you have a problem unless the alarm goes off. Make sure you're not feeling headachy or lightheaded or just generally not well. Get into the fresh air if you are and use your cell to call the fire dept. It may be an old battery. I was told to change them every time I changed the batteries in my smoke detector.

Answer 2

First, replace batteries if it uses them. If it doesn't, try contacting the company that made it to see what's going on. If they don't know or they place you on hold forever or something, you could also try calling your local fire department (just the regular number, not 911). If it turns out that your alarm really is working and there's carbon monoxide in your house, just get yourself and your family (including any pets) outside ASAP. Then I'm pretty sure you should call the police or the fire department out to see what's going on and fix the problem.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Contact your local gas company (or furnace company) to come out and test the air levels for carbon monoxide. Leave your a window or two cracked open until they do - and if you feel flu like symptoms of any kind, get the heck out of there! Take care and good luck!

Answer 4

I'm sure your local fire department would be able to assist you at no cost. Advise them of your problem, preferably calling from a neighbors house or your cell phone while you aren't in the home. They will likely have a handheld detector to advise you if there is CO in your home, or perhaps the detector is defective.

This is not a 911 appropriate call to them if no one is ill. Look them up in the phone book for their non-emergency number. They'll still come right out - just not with sirens blazing.

Answer 5

Be concerned. If it is a battery alarm, replace the battery. If you are living in a cold area and have your furnace on, get it looked at. There is a CO vent on it, and it might be damaged, etc., and might be the cause of the alarm going off.

Answer 6

it sounds like where it was placed .because of the fact that it went off only three times .if there was a problem .the unit would never clear .it may be to close to the garage,kitchen, or furnace.i suggest u call the manufacture or the fire dept.for instructions

Answer 7

the batteries might be getting old that happened to ours and we had people come out and they said that after a few years they get old and you need to buy a whole new carbon monoxide reader. it stinks but if you want it to quite i would recommend having your house inspecting by your fernis company or buy a new one.

Answer 8

Replace the batter, when a smoke alarm beeps the battery needs to be replaced.

Answer 9

Well, yeah! I'd be worried. That's why you got it in the first place. Call the gas company.

Answer 10

IF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER HAVE BEEN FEELING LIKE YOU HAVE THE FLU OR HAVE BEEN TIRED....GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, CALL 911 AND THE FIRE DEPT WILL RESPOND.