Also, keep in mind when shopping that some devices are sealed units that must be completely replaced when the battery fails. Pro tip: Choosing to replace them on New Year’s Day is always a good annual reminder. Our pros advise testing your installed detectors every month and replacing the batteries at least once a year. ✔️ Power source: Make sure the device has an indicator so you know it’s being powered. But don’t make the incorrect assumption that a CO detector will also detect a natural gas leak: Unless it specifically says it will, it won’t. Some detectors can identify more than one gas and some can detect smoke. ✔️ Type of gas: It’s important to understand which gases can be detected by the device and which won’t be. “I liked getting air quality alerts on my phone, especially with young kids in the house,” said one tester. Our testers found the View Plus easy to set up and view data. The data is sent straight to an app on your phone, enabling users to monitor their homes’ indoor air quality remotely. Meanwhile, carbon monoxide, or CO, is a potentially deadly gas produced by fuel-burning appliances and cars.)Īirthings also works as a home weather station, tracking outside climate conditions like temperature and humidity. (Note: Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a gas that's produced by human breathing, among other sources it's a good measure of air stuffiness in your home and can cause headaches and dizziness at elevated levels. What the Airthings does not monitor is carbon monoxide, nor is it a replacement for smoke alarms. The battery-powered device monitors carbon dioxide and radon, as well as particulate matter from cooking fumes and airborne chemicals from household cleaners. ![]() One of the best we've tested is the Airthings View Plus - so much so that we awarded it a 2022 Good Housekeeping Home Reno Award. Though you will need an additional unit that detects other types of gases aside from carbon monoxide.ĭigital air monitors are relatively new to the home safety category, but our experts like the blanket protection they provide. We especially appreciate that no monthly subscription is needed. The unit is battery-powered or can be hardwired, and our pros love that it syncs wirelessly with other devices. Also unique is that a motion detector triggers it to softly light up as you walk underneath it in the dark, so it also functions as a night light (you get to choose the level of light). That means, in the event of a false alarm (burnt toast, anyone?), you can silence it directly from your phone.ĭifferent light colors on the unit let you know if the device is working or if there is a possible problem or an emergency. ![]() "Plus, Nest is a trusted brand in the smart home category." It's conveniently equipped with voice alerts and informs you of the location of the alarm, while also sending alerts to your phone. The perfect addition to your smart home, "the Nest Protect is among our top-rated smoke and CO detectors based on its intuitive design and user-friendly interface," says DiClerico. The downsides are that there is no battery backup in the event of a power outage and it does not detect carbon monoxide. "The combination of siren, light and voice alarm provides an added layer of safety, especially in homes with children or the hearing-impaired," says DiClerico.Īmazon reviewers say they felt reassured by the digital display and liked how easy it is to confirm it was working by following the manufacturer’s suggestion of testing the detector with an unlit butane lighter. The easy-to-read LED display then registers any concentration of combustible gas, but if the concentration rises above 5%, it triggers a flashing red light and voice alert as well as a loud alarm. When you first turn it on, the device will take about three minutes to go through a warm-up and self-test sequence. While our engineers haven't yet tested the EG Air in the Lab, its value is tough to beat and we love that it includes a 6-foot extension cord so you can plug it into an outlet and mount it near the ceiling to detect natural gas or near the floor to detect propane.
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