The best carbon monoxide detectors

Keep you and your family safe with one of the best carbon monoxide detectors.

Best carbon monoxide detector

by Eleanor Weaver |
Updated on

We've all heard the annoying sound of a smoke alarm when a Sunday fry-up doesn't go to plan, frantically opening windows to make the beeping go away. Much like a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide detector operates by alerting us of the presence of lethal gas, which is crucial to ensure the safety of any household.

When it comes to choosing the right detector, there's no room for error. For that reason, we've rounded up the best carbon monoxide detectors in terms of quality, longevity, and price.

Best carbon monoxide detector at a glance:

Top pick: Google Nest Protect - view on Amazon UK
Best for volume: Honeywell XC70 Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm - view on Amazon UK
Best for energy-saving: X-Sense Carbon Monoxide Alarm - view on Amazon UK

But what causes carbon monoxide in the home? Appliances such as boilers, gas fires, central heating systems, and open fires can all lead to carbon monoxide exposure, where gas does not burn fully. If a household appliance, like a cooker or boiler, has not been installed or maintained adequately, this could lead to the presence of carbon monoxide. Camp stoves, charcoal grills, and burning fuels in an enclosed space can also lead to the build-up of carbon monoxide in your home.

Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent the release of carbon monoxide (CO), the main one being installing a carbon monoxide detector.

Remember, if your CO detector ever sounds, leave your house immediately and call 999.

The best carbon monoxide detectors

Top pick

Google Nest Protect 2nd Generation Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Price: £94.35 (was £150)
Alternative retailers
AO.com£101.00View offer
Argos£109.00View offer
Currys£109.00View offer

Description

A truly 'smart detector', this device uses a friendly human voice to give you an early warning of

Pros

  • Tells you what's wrong and where the problem is
  • Phone alerts include for low-battery, smoke, carbon monoxide, sensor failure
  • Detects smoke and carbon monoxide

Cons

  • Requires wired installation

Recommended

Fireangel FA3322 Digital CO Alarm

Rrp: £38.00

Price: £36.99

Description

Fireangel's multi-function carbon monoxide detector will provide audible and visual warnings of

Pros

  • Automatic self-diagnostic check
  • Multi-function digital screen and room thermometer
  • Large test and silence button

Cons

  • Doesn't display all the functions at once - need to cycle through with the button

Best for portability

Mercury 350.139 Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm

Rrp: £21.99

Price: £18.79

Description

With a seven-year lifespan, the Mercury alarm is a fantastic and reliable carbon monoxide

Pros

  • LCD display with continual readout
  • Tested in an approved lab
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • Not the easiest to read

Best for energy-saving

X-Sense Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector

Rrp: £26.99

Price: £21.99

Description

Not only is this device modern-looking and sleek, but it's also highly accurate and efficient.

Pros

  • Low energy consumption
  • Large LCD display
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • Not made to be freestanding

Best for versatile positioning

Scondaor Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector

Rrp: £28.99

Price: £22.98

Description

We love that this energy-saving carbon monoxide detector is battery-powered and provides a precise

Pros

  • Compact size
  • Option to be wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted or freestanding
  • Large LCD display

Cons

  • Instructions aren't the best

Best twin pack

Lifesaver Carbon Monoxide Alarm Twin PackCredit: Argos

Description

Ensure the safety of your home by equipping it with a crucial defence against the 'silent killer,'

Best easy to use carbon monoxide alarm

EITO - Carbon Monoxide DetectorCredit: Amazon
Price: £12.99

Description

When the concentration of carbon monoxide reaches the alarm value, the red LED flashes and

Best carbon monoxide detector FAQs

Where should I install my CO detector?

Place your carbon monoxide detector high on the wall in any room that contains a fuel-burning appliance. You should also place a detector on every floor of your house in the hallways, close enough to bedrooms so that you can be alerted should the detector sound in the middle of the night.

How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

Prevention is key when it comes to carbon monoxide, and these are a few things that will help hinder the chance of exposure.

• Install battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors and place them in hallways close to bedrooms or spaces where people sleep. Make sure to change the batteries once or twice a year, and replace your CO detector every five years.

• Have appliances regularly serviced by qualified professionals.

• Make sure your chimney is swept thoroughly once a year.

• You should never burn charcoal inside your home.

• Never use a gas appliance that isn't properly vented.

• You should never use a generator in your home or within six metres of a window or vent.

What causes carbon monoxide in the home?

Carbon monoxide can result from fuel-burning appliances such as boilers, gas fires, heating systems, cookers, open fires, and water heaters.

©Getty Images

How can you tell if there is carbon monoxide in your house?

Carbon monoxide is both odourless and colourless, meaning you can't see or smell it. This is part of what makes CO so dangerous and hard to detect.

The best, most effective way to tell if there is carbon monoxide in your home is by installing a CO detector. Having said that, there are some tell-tale signs which might let you know that something is wrong.

Things like heavy condensation in a room where there's an appliance or brown-yellow stains or soot around a fuel appliance are both signs of dangerous carbon monoxide levels.

If you have any concerns about CO exposure, leave your home and call the emergency gas number at 0800 111 999.

How does carbon monoxide affect the body?

According to the NHS, symptoms of mild carbon monoxide poisoning are as follows:

• Tension-type headache
• Dizziness
• Feeling and being sick
• Tiredness and confusion
• Flu-like symptoms
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain

Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Yours, specialising in home décor, furnishings and appliances. Having worked commercially on Yours magazine and Yours.co.uk for the past six years, she's previously hosted Yours Live events and loves looking for home inspiration online.

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