Several things may be causing your Kidde carbon monoxide alarm to sound or chirp. Understanding what the beep pattern indicates is essential to keeping your home and family safe, especially if a CO beep is notifying end-of-life mode, since then it can no longer detect carbon monoxide.

The Nest Protect passed our sealed incense test with flying colours: the smoke alarm went off first, followed by the CO alarm five minutes later; according to the app, the CO level was 414ppm and increasing. We can’t think of a better CO currently alarm on the market, particularly as it also detects smoke. Carbon monoxide sensors have a finite lifespan of between five and seven years, although a few manufacturers now claim that their sensors will last a full ten years. Generally speaking, it’s worth playing it safe and replacing your alarm a year or two before its life is supposed to run out. Tests in the US have shown that alarms over eight years old can fail to detect CO at levels of above 400ppm.Thankfully, there’s an early-warning solution in the form of a carbon monoxide alarm that costs only a few pounds more than a smoke alarm. Be aware, though, that not all CO detectors are sensitive enough and some no-name brands are downright useless – and, therefore, dangerous. Ensure you opt for a reputable brand such as FireAngel, First Alert, Kidde, Nest or Lifesaver. For a person to begin feeling the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, they would need to be exposed to a carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) for eight hours. An alarm’s response time will vary depending on the level of carbon monoxide in the air. For example, an alarm will sound after three and a half hours of continuous exposure at a level of 50ppm, yet will sound after eight minutes of continuous exposure at a level of 400ppm.” You may be experiencing a nuisance alarm. Follow the procedure for handling false carbon monoxide alarms. Anytime someone is experiencing the symptoms of CO poisoning, it should be treated as an emergency.

Hint: If you installed CO alarms 5-7 years ago, it's time to install new carbon monoxide detectors. Install carbon monoxide alarms at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances and make sure nothing is covering or obstructing the unit. Do not place the unit in dead air spaces or next to a window or door.

Continuous Four-Beep Alarm Pattern

End of Life Warning – Seven years after initial power up, a Kidde CO alarm will begin chirping every 30 seconds. The chirp will not stop until the unit is powered off, and it’s vital to replace the carbon monoxide alarm immediately since it can’t detect CO when it enters end-of-life mode. ppm: Immediate physiological effects, unconsciousness and danger of death after 1-3 minutes of exposure.

The 7DCO comes with a ten-year lifespan and is BS EN 50291-2 certified for camping, caravanning and travel, or even use on a boat. As with all CO detectors, the Kidde provides end-of-life and battery warnings, along with the obligatory test/reset button for peace of mind. The only thing to watch out for is that it’s powered by a pair of AA batteries which need replacing roughly every two years We had no issues whatsoever during tests, but it means this alarm won’t be compliant with the new Scottish regulations. The Kidde KN-COPP-3 AC powered, plug in carbon monoxide alarm provides you and your family with warning signal to protect against dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home. This alarm is easily installed in any of your AC wall outlets. The digital display feature allows for easy viewing of carbon monoxide levels from 30-999PPM (parts per million). The KN-COPP-3 is UL listed and offers a 10-year life and a 10-year limited warranty. Beat the beep and keep your home safe from the harmful and potentially fatal effects of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Here are the different ways and patterns in which a carbon monoxide alarm can beep to signal a message. When the carbon monoxide alarm senses a dangerous level of CO gas, the unit will emit a loud alarm pattern. The alarm pattern is four short beeps – followed by five seconds of silence – followed by four short beeps.* This could mean that: FireAngel is a major player in the field of CO, fire and smoke detection and this unique system is clearly a clever, albeit pricey, way to protect the entire household in one fell swoop.Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer because you can’t smell it, taste it or see it. Once it enters your bloodstream, it invades the red blood cells (haemoglobin), preventing them from carrying oxygen around the body. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include a flu-like headache, dizziness and nausea followed by tiredness, confusion, breathlessness, weakness, loss of muscular coordination and – dare I mention it – death. CO is so odourless that even dogs can’t detect it. How do CO alarms work? ppm: Headache, nausea, and dizziness after 5-10 minutes; collapse and unconsciousness after 30 minutes of exposure. Do not reenter the premises until emergency services responders have given you permission to do so. Carbon monoxide is produced through the fuel-burning process. Here are some examples of what can cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home:

The chemical makeup of the two gasses is slightly different, but the difference in their effects is extreme. Carbon dioxide is mostly harmless, while carbon monoxide can be fatal.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms from Kidde

If the alarm reactivates within a 24-hour period, repeat the above steps and call a qualified appliance technician to investigate sources of CO from fuel-burning equipment and appliances, and to inspect for proper operation of equipment. Digital display models show levels of CO, displayed in ppm (parts per million). Anytime the alarm sounds, whether it is an alarm with a digital display or not, it should be treated as a potentially serious situation. Get everyone outside of the home and call 911 from outside or from a neighbor’s home. If you are unable to leave the home to call for help, open the doors and windows, turn off all possible sources of CO while you are waiting for assistance to arrive, and stand by an open door or window. Under no circumstance should an alarm be ignored. Learning to identify why a carbon monoxide alarm is beeping is vital to help keep your family and your home safe. ppm: Headache, nausea, and dizziness after 45 minutes; collapse and unconsciousness after 1 hour of exposure.