CO Alarm User Guide

Here are some basic instructions and user guide for using a carbon monoxide detector made by Kidde.

When the alarm sounds, the first thing you should do is to press the test/ reset button.

Once you have established that the alarm is in working order, call the gas emergency services helpline.

Ensure that everyone in the house is taken outside and make sure noone is left inside. You should not go back into the premises until someone from the gas emergency services has come and checked the house. It should be properly aired and make sure your alarm is no longer sounding. If your alarm should go off again within the next 24 hours, then once again evacuate the house and call in the gas emergency services.

Make sure all the fuel burning appliances are checked in the correct manner by a gas safe installed with the proper credentials. Any appliances such as cookers, boilers, wall heaters,stoves, fires should be tested to ensure they are not emitting co gas.

It is important to remember that any carbon monoxide sensor will only beep or alarm if it recognises the presence of the gas where it is situated. There could still be carbon monoxide gas in areas of your house when there is no alarm present. Of course, with a high level of CO poisoning, the alarm is sure to be exposed to this dangerous gas. However, always follow manufacturer recommendations regarding the placement of its carbon monoxide detectors. It is generally recommended that you have a CO alarm kit on every level of your house.

You should also place them in a position in which they can be heard when you are asleep and if you make the decision to only install one then, by the bedroom is the preferential place. Of course, it would be best practice to have more than one in the house. One near the bedrooms and one near the living area would be best just incase there is any risk of exposure in the living area and should anyone decide to take a sleep there. Obviously, all of this depends upon the individual layout of your homes and should be planned out carefully.

Care needs to be taken when installing alarms in locations where they maybe exposed to any substances that could damage the sensors and not too close to the appliances that it is protecting you from, so as not to cause false alarms.

Positioning of the CO detector is very important and always check the manufacturer instructions for the correct guidance.