As a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas, carbon monoxide is not easily detected, so buying a carbon monoxide detector is the smart thing to do! Additionally, by adding smart home connectivity to your carbon monoxide detectors, you can unlock a plethora of features and make carbon monoxide detection much more efficient.
Smart carbon monoxide detectors can be connected with each other, other smoke alarms, and many smart home assistants/hubs. Additionally, most detectors can send notifications to your phone, or be silenced or tested through phone apps. You can also sync your CO detectors with smart lights and switches through smart home hubs, making it much easier to tackle emergency situations.
Smart carbon monoxide detectors come either in a combo or are sold separately. Read on!
Should you go for a Combo?
Yes, you should go for a combo if you can afford one, and don’t already have a smoke or fire alarm installed. Having a smoke- and fire alarm combo helps protect against smoke inhalation, premature fires, and unwanted fires.
Additionally, a combo offers better space management (since you can install them both in one place), is cost-cutting, and you can also interlink them. But, if you already have a smoke alarm installed, you can opt for just a carbon monoxide monitor/alarm.
Best Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Combo Detectors
A smart smoke alarm designed to think, speak and alert your phone.
- Split spectrum sensors.
- RGB color ring with 6 LEDs.
- Turns the light on by motion detection during the night.
Boasting a split spectrum sensor for detection of all types of fires, the Nest Protect alarm is designed to automatically test itself over 400 times a day to ensure accuracy and long-term performance. The alarm is among the very first smart alarms to use Sound Check to quietly test its speaker and horn once a month.
Unlike regular smoke or fire alarms, you don’t physically press a button to silence it, in case it goes off accidentally. Instead, all you need is to hush it up on your phone through the Google Nest app. You can also silence false alarms and battery alerts through the smartphone app.
Split-Spectrum
The alarm uses split spectrum technology to detect two separate wavelengths of light, which helps it detect smoke from both fast-burning and smoldering fires. Additionally, the smoke alarm tells you exactly what the nature and location of the detected danger is.
The alarm also has a voice alert that gives you an early warning of the possibility of an alarm – whether you are burning toast or overcooking food. When the battery is low, you will not hear any annoying chirping sounds in the middle of the night. Instead, the smart alarm notifies you of the low battery through the Nest Protect phone app.
- Designed with LED lights that light up as you walk underneath it for added brightness in the dark.
- Its Steam Check technology uses custom algorithms and humidity sensors to prevent false alarms.
- Notifies you of low batteries directly on the app, so no more annoying chirps!
- Uses light and voice to communicate.
- It lacks a digital display.
- Apart from the Google Nest ecosystem, the alarm does not connect with many other smart home networks.
Tech Specs
| Smoke alarm: | Yes |
| Carbon monoxide alarm: | Yes |
| Audio: | 80dB @ 3ft |
| Horn: | 85 dB @ 10ft |
| Batteries: | Yes, 6 or 3 AA batteries |
An Alexa-enabled and Apple HomeKit-compatible alarm that uses photoelectric and electrochemical technology.
- Omni-directional speaker.
- Alexa-enabled and Apple HomeKit-compatible.
- Sends notifications to your phone, and can be silenced through the app as well.
The Safe & Sound smart smoke- and carbon monoxide detector features hardwired photoelectric smoke and electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor technology to enhance its accuracy and dependability. Its built-in Alexa and Apple HomeKit compatibility helps to further improve its connectivity.
Integrating a state-of-the-art omni-directional home speaker and equipped with the power of Alexa, the smart smoke- and carbon monoxide alarm offers superior reliability – notifying of every potential warning and alert. Furthermore, the alarm is built with LED lights with auto-brightness that glow to light your route in the dark.
LED Lighting
During the day, the LED lights get brighter to ensure visibility in an emergency. You can even turn off auto-brightness and adjust the brightness through the Onelink app if you want to. Furthermore, the carbon monoxide monitor tracks its battery levels using the app to optimize safety; letting you know when it’s time to change the batteries.
Thanks to this feature, you don’t have to worry about annoying low battery chirps during the night. On the other hand, its voice alerts let you know the type and location of the danger in your home – keeping it connected and safe even during an emergency.
- Easy to install ceiling placement for optimal speaker acoustic quality.
- Can easily connect with other brands of hardwired alarms in your home.
- Airplay 2-compatible: enables a wireless multi-room audio system so you can stream music anywhere in your home.
- Comes with a 10-year battery backup.
- Except for music playback, the built-in Alexa lacks all other Alexa features.
- Only hardwired variant available.
Tech Specs
| Smoke alarm: | Yes |
| Carbon monoxide alarm: | Yes |
| Audio: | 80dB @ 3ft |
| Horn: | 80 dB @ 10ft |
| Batteries: | Yes, 6 or 3 AA batteries |
Best Dedicated Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The FireAngel CO alarm allows for a choice of up to three connections. The Standalone method allows you to add it as a single carbon monoxide monitor in a single independent zone in your home.
- 35m range coverage.
- Freestanding or wall installation.
- Push-button switch style.
The Network method allows for a simple retrofit installation. In this case, you can interlink your alarm into a system of mains and battery-powered alarms. Thus, when a single alarm sounds, they both sound.
Finally, you can opt for a smart app. Using the smart app, you don’t have to worry about cumbersome wires and complex installations. Simply add a gateway to the network for full alarm control using the free FireAngel app.
In addition to the seamless connection, the smart app integration allows for more features on your fingertips, such as silencing the alarm or testing it for reliability.
The FireAngel brand is based in the UK. However, it can be delivered to the US within a few additional days.
The Fibaro CO sensor delivers safety reports every 5 seconds and saves the previous 2500 measurements. As the sensors pick up on the CO value every 5 seconds, you receive reports to your iOS device if the values differ by 5 ppm. In addition to the CO values, the sensor monitors ambient temperatures in your home or office every 30 seconds too.
- Temperature detector.
- Anti-tampering detection.
- Bluetooth wireless technology.
Fibaro’s carbon monoxide sensor tests its battery every six hours and sends a notification to your iOS device (phone or HomeKit) in case the battery is low.
Unlike most CO alarms, Fibaro’s CO sensor does not only notify you if carbon monoxide levels go beyond a certain threshold. Instead, it saves instant data and detects sudden rises, making sure even small levels of Carbon Monoxide are immediately caught.
The Fibaro CO sensor is available in the EU. However, if you are in the US, you can find it from local vendors below;
https://www.fibaro.com/en/where-to-buy/
The First Alert CO alarm features advanced electrochemical sensors to detect CO leaks from multiple sources – like blocked chimneys or faulty fuel-burning appliances. Thanks to its versatile design, the alarm allows you to program it anywhere in your home, even the basement.
- Alarmand low battery latch.
- Mesh network communication.
- Spread spectrum horn tone.
Its wireless interconnectivity allows for a more reliable and secure radio frequency communication between it and other alarms. It also has a voice feature to tell you where exactly the CO is detected. Its tamper-resistant build means that you can lock it to a mounting bracket to prevent its removal or the removal of its battery.
This makes it ideal for any setting – even high-traffic settings. For added safety, its spread spectrum horn tone allows you to pick the frequency of your choice to make it easier for the elderly or people with hearing problems.
Keep in mind that the First Alert, easy-to-install CO alarm is not fully smart. Thus, you can connect it with other alarms wirelessly. However, the alarm doesn't connect to an app although you can use it to connect other First Alert devices that are fully smart.
Already have a non-smart alarm? Let's get creative!
The Ecolink Z-Wave audio detector is designed to work with existing smoke sensors. The Z-Wave enabled audio detector controls, monitors, and checks the status of smoke- and fire alarms inside the home. All you have to do is connect it to the home automation system and let it do the job.
- Patented detection algorithms.
- 5-year CR123A lithium battery.
- SmartThings compatibility.
The Ecolink Z-Wave audio detector is designed to work with existing smoke sensors. The Z-Wave enabled audio detector controls, monitors, and checks the status of smoke- and fire alarms inside the home. All you have to do is connect it to the home automation system and let it do the job.
Once it detects any activity, it simply transmits back to your hub to notify you of an event. But, the wireless audio detector also transmits alerts on its own. The best part about the audio detector is that it has a single sensor. Yet, the sensor is powerful enough to cover the entire home.
Furthermore, the audio detector also features an easy-to-install design and comes with all the necessary accessories. The audio detector comes with a sensor-mounting bracket and all the screws or adhesive tape required to set it up.
Common Questions Relating to Smart Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors
While you can place your carbon monoxide alarm on the ceiling, it is not the best place. The ceiling works best for a combo set. Typically, a carbon monoxide alarm should be placed on a wall about 4 to 6 feet above the floor.
This is because, unlike regular air, carbon monoxide is lighter and can be found with warm, rising air. Additionally, about 4 to 6 feet above the ground is typically where the air we breathe circulates the most.
Thus, the detector should be in-between – not too high and not too low. Avoid placing your detectors directly above items that may potentially release CO – even non-lethal amounts. These include fireplaces or flame-producing appliances.
The Best Smart Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors Verdict
Investing in a carbon monoxide monitor is a reliable way to keep your home safe and protected. In fact, with a smart option, features are more seamless – automating all the processes so you don’t have to deal with the nuisances that come with a traditional CO monitor.
However, if you don’t have a smart option, you can still invest in a selection of accessories like the ones listed above to improve the functions of your existing smoke alarm.
A smart smoke alarm designed to think, speak and alert your phone.
- Split spectrum sensors.
- RGB color ring with 6 LEDs.
- Turns the light on by motion detection during the night.