Carbon Monoxide Alarm

sibersha

Hi

Moved into a new property last year, it has a Ei Electronics EI208 Carbon Monoxide alarm installed.
goo.gl/UKsXcC

Yesterday evening, it started chirping every 30 seconds or so. Opened a window as a precaution last night.

Initially I thought it may be a battery issue but turns out the alarm does not have a replaceable battery as per the instructions "Powered for life lithium battery (non-replaceable) – Ei208 models."

Any thoughts as to what I need to do?

Thanks

Wearb

Did you have anything running that could have produced co? How old is it? They have a limited life span, due to natural deterioration of the co cell. Call fire service for advice to be on safe side.

Be careful with co and don't take chances with it.

Pkiernan

You need a new one.
Consider a mains operated one.

sibersha

Thanks for the replies

The alarm is in the kitchen, we have an electric cooker. The heating is a communal heating system that is powers by gas, but has not been on for the last couple of days.

The alarm itself is new I assume as the house is a new build and the alarm has a sticker on it saying to replace before March 2027.

sunny2004

You're personal safety is first, if it was me I would purchase a new portable one, if it chirps you have an issue if not get the one that came with the house sorted and the backup new one place somewhere else in the property as a backup ..

DGOBS

If its chirping ever 30 seconds or so, its usually a battery issue, or maybe an internal fault
(CO gives a full alarm) try changing the batteries.

If not best option is just to replace it.

EI are a good quality CO alarm

Manual here:
https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/454616/415279.pdf

sibersha

Thanks for the replies folks. Got speaking to the person who installed it.

Turns out it was the smoke alarm which is right beside the co alarm.

I assumed it wasn't the smoke alarm as it is hard wired and the light was solid green but it also has a 9v battery installed that has died, hence the chirping.

Wearb

sibersha wrote: »

Thanks for the replies folks. Got speaking to the person who installed it.

Turns out it was the smoke alarm which is right beside the co alarm.

I assumed it wasn't the smoke alarm as it is hard wired and the light was solid green but it also has a 9v battery installed that has died, hence the chirping.

Great that you got to the bottom of it. Thanks for reporting back. It may be helpful to someone in the future.

DGOBS

You should still have a read of the manual, and weekly test all your alarms

Prenderb

sibersha wrote: »

Turns out it was the smoke alarm which is right beside the co alarm.

I assumed it wasn't the smoke alarm as it is hard wired and the light was solid green but it also has a 9v battery installed that has died, hence the chirping.

This is partly why people should regularly check their smoke alarms and replace before they're 10 years old. The alarms, that is. The other reason as someone else said is because the detection mechanism wears out. (don't we all!)

So get your smoke alarms replaced if they're more than 10 years old. I know you said it's a new house, but it's still odd that the smoke alarm was chirping. When you replace the battery, check the "replace by" date. Might be an older batch that was installed?

And check the Carbon Monoxide alarm's placement - there's a manual upstairs in the thread. Often they don't need to be on the ceiling, and might be better off on the wall. You said the smoke alarm was next to it - so perhaps one of them needs moving (Smoke alarm absolutely should be on the ceiling!)

sibersha

Thanks again folks, very helpful.

@DGOBS - I have downloaded manuals for both the co detector and smoke detector.

I'll read over them both and plan to test regularly in future ðŸ‘

Tom44

Sibersha
Thanks for been so cautious, and pointing out the reasons.
I wish more people were like minded for their own health.