Test your carbon monoxide detectors' alarms

Make sure the alarms on your detectors are working, so they can alert you to a hazard.

Time

1 minute per detector

Difficulty

Easy

Expertise

None

Frequency

Once a month

Where

All US

Your best defense against carbon monoxide is detectors installed near fuel-burning appliances and near sleeping areas. Make sure the alarm works correctly. This test doesn't determine if the detector functions correctly, just its alarm.

The risk associated with carbon monoxide poisoning is related to the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air and the duration of the exposure. Therefore, alarms sound if they detect low concentrations for a long, or high concentrations for a short time.

Steps

1. Press the TEST button.
2. Replace any detector with a non-functioning alarm.