How to choose a carbon monoxide detector for your home

Illiterate operation of a gas boiler, fireplace or even a stove can lead to the formation of carbon monoxide. This is an extremely dangerous toxic substance, and it is also flammable. It is impossible to detect it without a special device. To protect yourself and your home, a smoke and carbon monoxide detector is installed.

What is carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide - carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas... It weighs less than air and rises to the ceiling, making it difficult to detect. The substance burns perfectly, and explodes when a certain concentration is reached.

Carbon monoxide is a great danger to humans and pets. The lethal dose is only 0.1% in the inhaled air... Even at such a low concentration, death occurs within 1 hour... With a higher gas content, a person dies from acute poisoning within 10 minutes.

How does it appear

Carbon monoxide is formed with incomplete combustion of fuel: natural gas, liquefied mixture, solid fuel. This situation arises when too little oxygen enters the combustion section - into the furnace furnace, the nozzle. In city apartments, this is possible. in case of malfunctions in gas equipment, as well as in case of errors in the design of the hood or insufficient draft in the chimney.

In a private house, carbon monoxide appears with the oven damper not closed... The firewood in the stove does not burn completely, but with sufficient draft, the combustion products are discharged into the chimney. Low thrust or rollover causes gases to enter the room.

Carbon monoxide is included in the composition of automobile exhaust... On the street, he is not dangerous. But if the car is repaired or warmed up in a poorly ventilated garage, poisoning is quite possible.

How does it affect the body

Poisoning symptoms are specific and develop very quickly:

• throbbing severe headache, dizziness, severe nausea;
• blurred vision, profuse lacrimation and runny nose;
• shortness of breath, severe chest pain;
• severe suffocating cough;
• increased heart rate, tachycardia;
• mucous membranes, and then the skin becomes bright red.

In case of severe poisoning drowsiness, apathy develops, partial paralysis occurs. Consciousness gets confused, fainting occurs. If the concentration of carbon monoxide continues to rise, convulsions begin, breathing stops, and the skin turns blue. The person falls into a coma and then dies.

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In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, the victim needs urgent help. Immediately shut off the gas supply, turn off the appliances, open all windows and doors to ensure a strong draft. If possible, a person is taken out into the sun, since the sun's rays destroy carboxyhemaglobin, a toxic complex that appears in the blood during poisoning.

Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

Carbon monoxide detector - device that measures the amount of carbon monoxide in the air... The element is very sensitive. The sensor detects a leak and turns on the alarm, notifying about the danger. Some modern devices have additional function: shut off the gas supply.

There are also modifications that immediately transmit information not only to the owners of the apartment, but also to the emergency service.

Device, purpose and functions

Alarm design is simple enough and includes the following elements:

• primary converter - a device that detects carbon monoxide;
• measuring module - receives information from the primary sensor and compares it with the permissible value;
• the executive unit is a solenoid valve that shuts off the gas supply;
• power source - network unit, galvanic cell, battery;
• the body of the device.

Carbon monoxide detector can act as an element of a unified security system "Smart House"... The analyzer functions are as follows:

• activation of sound and / or light alarm;
• shutdown of the gas supply;
• exhaust ventilation starts - not everywhere;
• signaling a danger to a fire station or emergency service.

Leak sensors can be different. A device designed to assess the concentration of natural or carbon dioxide will not detect carbon monoxide leakage.

Varieties

The analyzing primary sensors have different operating principle... Devices are classified according to the type of element used.

• Semiconductor - the sensor is a silicon wafer coated with metal oxide. Carbon monoxide is absorbed by the oxide. In this case, the internal resistance of the plate changes in accordance with the gas concentration. The accuracy of the device is low, the plate recovers for a long time after triggering. But the device is cheap, easy to use and quite suitable for use in everyday life.
  
• Catalytic sensor - in the body of the gas analyzer, carbon monoxide burns to obtain carbon dioxide and water. If the incoming mixture contains a lot of carbon monoxide, the temperature of the air in the chamber increases and heats up the Catholic element - the platinum-wound coil. The latter changes resistance depending on the amount of heating. The catalytic sensor is very accurate and recovers quickly, which is why such devices are expensive and more commonly used in industry.
  
• Infrared - the absorption spectrum of light is different for different gases. In an infrared sensor, the air mixture is studied in the infrared range. The sensor calculates the concentration of carbon monoxide based on the difference between the absorption in the control medium and the analyzed one. The device is extremely accurate and gives results almost instantly. In everyday life, such devices are not found, since, in fact, they are low-power laboratory equipment.
  

Gas analyzers are also classified according to other parameters: wired and wireless, with and without a valve.

How is triggering

In dwellings, in garages, baths, they are most often installed audible alarm sensor, since a person reacts faster to unusual loud sounds. In addition, the sound is heard not only in the kitchen. The nature of the signal is standardized. But since the device uses sounds and in order to report, for example, its breakdown, you should study the instructions.

When the concentration of carbon monoxide increases above normal the executive module turns on the siren and shuts off the gas supply if equipped with a valve. After the gas is turned off, the concentration of carbon monoxide also decreases. As soon as its content reaches the norm, the device turns off the alarm.

Household gas analyzers are not very accurate and programmed for reinsurance... Sometimes the alarm is associated with the preparation of specific dishes, like sauerkraut.

How to choose a carbon monoxide sensor

Carbon monoxide gas analyzer choose by several parameters.

• Sensitivity - or the type of measuring element. In fact, the choice here is small, since only semiconductor devices are considered household devices. A model with a catalytic meter in apartments is extremely rare.
• Wired or wireless - the first is connected to the network, that is, it is located near the outlet, but consumes less electricity. Autonomous - battery or rechargeable - does not depend on the network, but it costs more.
  

  

  

• Valve model preferable. Such a device is equipped with an electromagnetic relay, which, when a signal is applied to the executive module, closes the circuit and closes the gas supply valve. It is advisable to put this option in front of a gas boiler or boiler.

Modern models can not only turn on the alarm, notifying of the leak, but also send a message to the owner's mobile phone and to the emergency service.

The danger is not only carbon monoxide, but also carbon dioxide and natural gas. It is recommended to equip the kitchen with all devices.

Installing the annunciator

Instructions for the device describe in detail how to fix and connect a carbon monoxide detector with alarm. but only a specialist has the right to perform work... He signs act of putting the device into operation.

Conditions and place for installation

Carbon monoxide is lighter than air and collects at the top of the room when it leaks. Carbon monoxide leak sensor set as high as possible... In countries CIS the distance from the floor to the detector in 1.5 m. In Europe devices are allowed to be mounted only on the ceiling.

Taken into account distance to open fire and heating devices - at least 4-5 m.

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If a multifunctional device is chosen that also analyzes the methane content, it must be borne in mind that the density of the blue fuel in the gas pipeline and in the cylinder is different. Natural gas is lighter as carbon monoxide rises to the ceiling. The detector is set quite high. The density of the liquefied material is lower, it collects in the lower part of the room, so the sensor is placed closer to the floor.

Where not to install

There are also requirements that limit the choice of installation site:

• you can not put the sensor near windows, doors or ventilation systems, since the concentration of carbon monoxide here will be lower than in the room;
• indoors it is impossible to mount devices, since there is no air circulation here and the sensor will not work;
• it is forbidden to install devices in rooms where ammonia is usedsince its vapors cause false alarms;
• it is forbidden to mount devices next to gas equipment.

In European countries, installing the sensor on a wall next to a boiler or fireplace is a gross violation.

Installation recommendations

The installation of the device is carried out by a specialist, the owner of the apartment can only perform preparatory actions. It is easier for the owner to choose a seat for the signaling device, since it knows how often and in what mode gas appliances work, and where what furniture will stand.

Before installation check the ventilation system... To do this, a lit paper strip is brought to the grate and the deflection of the flame is monitored. If it is in good working order and there is a draft, you can install it.

It is recommended to place one of the sensors in the bedroom. Typically, most of these accidents occur at night.

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The carbon monoxide alarm is checked after installation and weekly thereafter. The devices are equipped with a special function - testing. The mode is activated by the button. In most models, the check is accompanied by only a light signaling. In normal operating mode, a green indicator on the instrument case lights up every minute. If there is no signal and the sensor does not respond to pressing a key, replace the batteries and check the general condition of the device.