Part Six – Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What happens if the power goes out?
A.If the power goes out, your alarm will sound a fading alarm to alert you that power has been disconnected. When the power is restored, the CO alarm will automatically reset and will sound a brief alarm to indicate it is receiving power.
In the event of a power outage, it is important to remember never to use alternative sources of heat indoors such as charcoal, a gas oven or unvented space heaters. These heat sources can cause extremely dan- gerous amounts of carbon monoxide.
Q.My unit has never alarmed. Is it really working?
A.If the green operate light is always on and the alarm operates as described on page 15 when you test it, your CO alarm is constantly monitoring for the presence of CO.
Q.You warranty the alarm for five years. How will I know when it doesn’t work anymore and I need to buy a new one?
A.In any event of malfunction, your alarm should alert you with mal- function signals. These signals are described in detail on page 16.
Q.I called in someone to inspect my home for CO after my unit alarmed, and he couldn’t find anything wrong. Why? Does that mean this alarm “false alarmed”?
A.No. Please read the information explaining why a CO problem can be difficult to diagnose on page 27. Also, please read the information on page 16 to make sure you experienced an alarm and not a mal- function alert.
Q.How much electricity does it take to run the CO alarm?
A.The CO alarm uses less than one watt of electricity. A typical night light uses four watts.
Q.Will the CO alarm last longer if I unplug it during the sum- mer months and only use it during the winter?
A.No. Some components of the CO alarm can deteriorate over time if not used regularly. We recommend the CO alarm be plugged in con- tinuously for maximum alarm life.
Part Six – Frequently Asked Questions
Q.I use the CO alarm in a vacation home that isn’t always occupied and can have temperature extremes when no one is there (no heat or no air conditioning). Will that hurt the CO alarm? Should I leave it plugged in all the time?
A.We recommend that your CO alarm not be installed in areas where temperatures fall below 40˚F (4.4˚C) or rise above 100˚F (37.8˚C). Your CO alarm was designed to be constantly plugged in for maximum performance.
Q.I plugged in the CO alarm at my house (my parents’, my neighbors’, etc.) and the alarm hasn’t sounded. Does that mean everything is OK? (I’m thinking I can return the CO alarm since everything checks out OK.)
A.This CO alarm is designed to act as a continuous monitor, it is not designed for use as a
Remember, a carbon monoxide problem can occur at any time, even after a professional inspection has determined that everything is in proper working order. Examples of problems that can develop are a crack in a furnace heat exchanger, a leak in a water heater vent, or a bird’s nest blocking a flue.
That’s why you need the
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