Carbon monoxide (CO) kills silently and unnoticed when it seeps into a home or other building through poorly ventilated spaces and fuel-burning equipment, such as fireplaces, gas stoves, furnaces, cars, and portable generators. CO is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that can build up to dangerous levels in closed rooms. Fortunately, detectors help prevent this invisible killer by alerting people to CO concentrations that may threaten their health. CO alarms also help people evacuate and get emergency assistance if they start to experience the early symptoms of poisoning, such as headache, fatigue, confusion, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.

Co tester use either electrochemical, biomimetic, or metal oxide semiconductor sensors to measure the CO in a space and sound an alarm when levels are high. The most common detectors employ an electrochemical sensor consisting of a platinum electrode submerged in an electrolyte, a solution that conducts electricity. When CO enters the sensor, it reacts with the platinum and emits ions that create an electric current. These are measured by the monitor’s circuitry and compared to a reference level to determine when an alarm should sound. Some monitors also have a peak level feature that keeps track of the highest concentration of CO detected over a set period of time.

Detecting Danger: The Importance of CO Testers in Home Safety

Codes and standards require that most CO detectors be tested at least monthly, though some specify weekly. QRFS offers a variety of tools for testing these devices, including cans of compressed CO, CO capsules, aerosol dispensers with compatible telescoping poles, and complete multi-device tester kits that tackle CO, smoke, and heat detectors.