Carbon Monoxide Detector Going Off? Here's What To Do Next | Vivint

Key takeaways:

• Carbon monoxide are important home safety tools that detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
• If your CO detector goes off, leave the building, call 911, and do not re-enter the home. Wait for emergency services to give you the all-clear.
• If your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, always treat it seriously. Do not assume it is a false alarm.

CO detector basics

Carbon monoxide detectors are extremely important home safety tools. They can save your life by telling you when dangerous levels of toxic gas are in your environment, such as a carbon monoxide leak. But you might have questions about what to do when your carbon monoxide detector goes off.

It's important to have a plan to keep you and your family safe. You likely already have an action plan in the event your smoke detector goes off; having a plan in case your carbon monoxide detector senses unsafe chemicals in your air is just as important.

This guide reviews what to do if your carbon monoxide detector ever goes off. We'll explain what carbon monoxide (CO) is and some of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. We'll also give you an overview of how your CO detector works to detect carbon monoxide in your environment.

What to do when your carbon monoxide detector goes off

Here's what to do when your CO alarm goes off:

1. Leave the building. Round up your family members and pets and seek fresh air immediately.
2. Dial 911 right away. Let emergency responders know your CO alarm has been activated.
3. Don't re-enter the home. The danger may still be present even if the alarm has ceased. Opening doors and windows will allow the CO in your home to dissipate, but you don't know if the machine that triggered the alarm has stopped producing carbon monoxide, so it is important to leave the windows open until you have the all clear.
4. Wait for emergency services to give you the all-clear. Only re-enter the home once the cause has been identified and emergency services have told you it's safe.

Do not ignore or reset the alarm

If your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, don't assume it's just a false alarm or system glitch. A carbon monoxide alarm is designed to alert you when even low levels of CO gas reach dangerous thresholds—and that warning should always be taken seriously.

Some homeowners may be tempted to hit the reset button or wait for the alarm sounds to stop. But unlike smoke, carbon monoxide can't be seen or smelled, so it's impossible to know whether your home is safe without proper testing by emergency services.

While false alarms can happen—usually due to dust, expired sensors, or placement near gas appliances—they're uncommon. And even in rare cases, it's safer to assume the detector is working correctly. Leave the home, call 911, and don't re-enter until emergency responders confirm it's safe.