Carbon Monoxide Detector

ToejaM

ToejaM

ToejaM

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Ola. My boiler is old, I need a new one and I've been paranoid that its trying to kill me.. so I bought a CMD off the bay, turns out it was two, bargain.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-LCD-CO-C...bar&mpt=1449671438793&clk_rvr_id=947050059363

Guess I glossed over the "2X" probably because the X wasn't lower case or something, who knows.

Anyway, they've turned up today and I'm a little sceptical that they are of any good. Baring in mind when I ordered them, I originally thought it was just the one and £11.99 seemed about par for the course online.. admittedly I didn't look very hard. They are about £15 in shops locally. You get what you pay for and all that..

I was made sceptical while reading the box as I noticed it said "1 x 4.5v battery" when in reality its 3x 1.5v batteries (AA). The instructions inside also say 3x 1.5v batteries. If the box didn't match the description/instructions then it makes me wonder if it detects unicorns or carbon monoxide. Ontop of this, there was a sentence I noticed that was clearly google translated to English.

To the internet I thought, the thing is I can't find anything searching for "Willstar".

I did find these however:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Car...id=1449672074&sr=8-9&keywords=carbon+monoxide

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monitor-Sen...d=1449672074&sr=8-15&keywords=carbon+monoxide

These are identical and some googling for just "Carbon Monoxide Detector" seems like the design is a basic one. Doesn't mean I should trust it though.

This leaves me to wonder if I should just go for a known brand, the only thing is I don't know what a respected/known brand of detector there is. I guess I could live test them but the testing kits are more than the alarm.. I'd rather just buy an alarm that has a better rep.

I put it to you GD, should I scrap them and go for something better known? What would be a brand that is more reliable when it comes to this kind of thing?
 
ToejaM said:
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I'd suggest that as you clearly aren't overly confident in your purchase that you go buy something else - as your mind will not be at ease otherwise. I've bought a few from B&Q, and can vouch for them.

the sister in laws log burner developed a leak in the flue liner and hers nearly woke the entire street!
 
Yeah I think I'm gunna have to just get one from elsewhere.

Any 'household' way to test them before I do so? I guess if I could set it off.. I'm probably burning a bit too much to do in a quick test lol
 
I did a lot of research a few weeks ago and concluded the best value/quality for money one is the Kidde KID10LLDCO.

It's more expensive but a) it lasts for 10 years, b) you don't need to change the batteries (the additional cost offsets paying for 10 years of batteries) and c) it's a good manufacturer so you're less likely to die.

(you can also get this one without a screen, but I'd rather be able to see how much I'm dieing)
 
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We have the Kidde Combinaton Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Voice Alarms in our house. Saves having multiple different contraptions around and it talks to you as well!
 
Pho said:
I did a lot of research a few weeks ago and concluded the best value/quality for money one is the Kidde KID10LLDCO.

It's more expensive but a) it lasts for 10 years, b) you don't need to change the batteries (the additional cost offsets paying for 10 years of batteries) and c) it's a good manufacturer so you're less likely to die.

(you can also get this one without a screen, but I'd rather be able to see how much I'm dieing)
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Bookmarked it as that looks like the way to go thanks, I had seen the Kidde name being thrown around and thought it might be the goto brand.

Part of me thinks I should get two as I have three floors in my house but I doubt I need any away from the kitchen as its right near the front room where the gas fire (which very rarely gets used is). Anything beyond that is probably just a smoke alarm jobbie?

Edit: I do have a smoke alarm but only on one floor.
 
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I'm far from an expert but was told by a gas engineer you should definitely have one by everything which burns gas and a fire which is rarely used is more of a hazard I imagine. Mind you, a friend of mine and his girlfriend had a brand new burning stove thing installed in their house and the person who installed it didn't vent it properly.. they both got knocked out by the carbon monoxide and only just woke up!

I've got smoke alarms in every room (bar the kitchen/bathroom). I think the recommendation is at least one per floor so I'd pick-up a couple of those too. I didn't realise until I was changing the battery in one the other day they have an expiration date as well.. the alarm I was changing the battery in expired this month, not replaced it yet mind :o.


edit: apparently you can test carbon monoxide detectors with a cigarette or something.
 
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No idea it doesn't say on it - the alarm looked like it was getting on a bit so must have been a good few years.
 
Weren't these on tv the other day? Basically if you have a CO leak they'll go off but the sensor will be rendered useless afterwards meaning any subsequent leak wouldn't be detected.
 
I buy lots of items of known entity through eBay, it is a great big giant mall of goods and is very useful.

However - sensors like this, i will always use screwfix, or somewhere like this. A Co sensor at screwfix is under £15 and of known quality.
 
The recommendation for smoke alarms is one on every floor or at least on the floor with the bedrooms on if you're cheapskate. CO alarms in each room where there is a gas appliance.

One of my smoke alarms has an expiry date of April 2014 so I really must get that one replaced but I know it still works as I tried it with a lit match not too long ago.
 
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