What To Do If My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off
If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, it’s important to take immediate action to ensure your safety. In this guide, we'll discuss the sound of a carbon monoxide alarm, why your carbon monoxide detector may be beeping, and the five steps to take if you have a carbon monoxide detector going off, which indicates dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
Why Is My Carbon Monoxide Detector Beeping?
What Does A Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sound Like?
How do you know what you're hearing is a carbon monoxide alert? A carbon monoxide alarm emits a loud, continuous, beeping sound that is designed to alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide gas in your home. The beeps are typically short, high-pitched, and repeated in a pattern, such as four quick beeps followed by a pause, then repeating. This distinctive sound is meant to grab attention, even during sleep, to ensure you can evacuate the area immediately. It’s crucial to differentiate this sound from the low-battery chirp, which is usually a single beep at longer intervals.
Does A Carbon Monoxide Detector Go Off Continuously?
What Should I Do If My Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes Off?
- Do not ignore the alarm. Assume it is working properly and there are unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
- All people and pets should quickly evacuate the home and find fresh air.
- Call 911 immediately and report that the alarm has gone off.
- Do not assume it is safe to reenter the home when the alarm stops. When you open windows and doors, it helps diminish the amount of carbon monoxide in the air, but the source may still be producing the gas. The levels can build up again once you go back inside and close the windows.
- Have the emergency responders check for the source of carbon monoxide and determine if it is safe for you to return to your home.
My Carbon Monoxide Detector Went Off Then Stopped: What Do I Do?
How To Turn Off Carbon Monoxide Alarm When It Is Going Off
What Are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Exposure?
Some symptoms could include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue or weakness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Light-headedness
- Blurred vision
- Sleepiness
- Loss of muscle control
- Increased heart rate
- Tightening in the chest
- Confusion and disorientation