Best Carbon Monoxide Detector of 2020—Protect Your Family from Invisible Dangers

Overview

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that’s poisonous to humans. Because a lot of common household devices––like furnaces, gas dryers, and fireplaces––produce carbon monoxide, you want to make sure your air is clean and safe from contamination.

*Amazon.com price as of 12/20/2019 at 5:06 p.m. (MST).

The Kidde cabon monoxide alarm has a strong reputation for reliable detectors, and that’s important when monitoring for the silent killer carbon monoxide.

A small LED screen displays continuous CO levels, even at less-than-dangerous levels, so you can catch any rises in carbon monoxide early instead of waiting for the 85-decibel alarm to go off.

The device’s powered connection gives you fewer placement options, but you won’t have to change the batteries or listen to incessant low battery alerts.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We recommend the Kidde Nighthawk if you already have smoke detectors and want to add CO detectors to your home.

>>Buy the Kidde Nighthawk

The Nest Protect is one of the priciest detectors on the market. But in this case, you get what you pay for.

This cutting-edge device is a combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm all in one. It sends mobile alerts so you’re immediately notified when there’s smoke or unsafe carbon monoxide levels at home. That can ease a lot of anxiety for parents and pet owners as you leave your loved ones at home.

Nest Protect integrates with other Nest equipment, like its smart thermostat and the Nest Hello Video Doorbell. So if the Nest Protect picks up on smoke or CO, it will tell the Nest Thermostat to turn off the furnace. And you can fully control it with your voice using Amazon Alexa. It also comes with a built-in motion sensor that helps you better navigate the house at night.

ASecureLife’s Recommendation: We recommend the Nest Protect if you want a fully integrated smart home. Get this detector if you want your CO monitoring to connect with your other Google or Nest devices and apps.

>>>Buy the Nest Protect or check out our full review of the Nest Protect.

If you like the smart aspects of the Nest Protect but want to spend less, you might like this First Alert combination smoke and CO detector.

The Z-Wave compatible unit works with smart home systems like Samsung SmartThings and Wink, so you can get mobile alerts whenever something happens while you’re away from home. And its battery-powered design gives you nearly unlimited placement options around your home.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The First Alert 2-in-1 is our favorite battery-powered carbon monoxide detector for its affordability, combination CO/smoke detection, and Z-Wave compatibility for mobile alerts.

>>Buy the First Alert.

We like this First Alert carbon monoxide detector for its simplicity and reliability. It’s affordable but dependable, unlike a lot of cheaper carbon monoxide detectors that aren’t up to industry standards. Its electrochemical sensor is cutting edge and eliminates false alarms or faulty readings.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The First Alert Carbon Monoxide Detector is our favorite affordable CO unit that still exceeds the industry standard for CO monitoring.

>>Buy the First Alert.

CO concentration is measured in ppm (parts per million). While small traces of carbon monoxide, between one and 50 ppm, are common, you likely won’t experience any symptoms until the CO concentration reaches upwards of 150–200 ppm, at which point it’s extremely dangerous.

>>Check out our article on what to do when your CO detector is beeping.

Serious CO exposure can cause dizziness, disorientation, shortness of breath, fatigue, or nausea, all of which resemble symptoms of the flu. Because these symptoms aren’t unique to CO poisoning, you might not immediately associate the symptoms with the immediate threat of carbon monoxide exposure. That’s part of what makes it so dangerous, and it’s why we strongly recommend you monitor for carbon monoxide in your home.

For the most accurate readings, you need to install at least one carbon monoxide detector on every floor. Do your best to situate the unit roughly five feet from the floor. If you have a gas furnace, gas dryer, water heater, or in-home fireplace, consider placing CO detectors close to these appliances so you can catch elevated CO levels before it spreads throughout the rest of the home.