The major reasons why carbon monoxide detector goes off in the middle of the night is because of the low battery life of the detector that causes resistance and the low temperature in the middle of the night between 2 a.m to 6 a.m which increases the resistance and causes the detector to go off.
Many homeowners are complaining about their carbon monoxide detector going off in the middle of the night for no just reason. Many are saying that it makes them uncomfortable as it always happens at the time of the time when sleep is more enjoyable. It will just wake everybody from sleep for no just reason.
There are reasons why your carbon monoxide detector goes in the middle of the night. The detector alarm is built to always alert you whenever there is a carbon monoxide leak in the house. Therefore, if the detector goes off in the middle of the night, there is a reason for that.
Reasons Why Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes Off in Middle of Night
The three major reasons why the carbon monoxide detector goes off in the middle of the night are the low battery life of the detector, the low temperature in the middle of the night between 2 a.m and 6 a.m in the morning, and the presence of carbon monoxide leak in the house.
So, the question you should ask yourself right now is, which of these reasons is why my detector goes off. Does it mean the battery level of my detector is low or is it the low-temperature level at that time of the night, or could it be the presence of a carbon monoxide leak in the house at the time of the night?
Most carbon monoxide detectors are made in such a way that they will signal the user when the battery life is getting bad so the user can do something about it. A situation whereby the battery level of the detector gets too low and the owner refuses to change it or do something about it, it will produce an amount of power that causes internal resistance in the detector.
Therefore, anytime it gets to the middle of the night when the house temperature is usually very low and sleep is very enjoying, the low temperature at that time will increase the resistance which will result in an insufficient power to operate the detector, therefore, the detector will go off.
However, better watch out. The reason why the carbon monoxide detector goes off in the middle of the night could be the presence of carbon monoxide at the time of the night, especially if it’s during the winter period. The best thing you need to do immediately you hear the sound of the detector is to evacuate everyone outside the house and open the windows to stop carbon monoxide poisoning.
Then verify what could be the problem. Don’t leave everyone inside while doing that in case there is indeed a carbon monoxide leak in the house.
However, if after examining your house and you find out that there is no carbon monoxide leak. Then just know that the detector went off because of its low battery and the temperature level at that time of the night. It is not something that should make you worry because the solution is very easy and simple.
How to Stop Carbon Monoxide Detector from Going Off in the Middle of the Night?
The best way to stop the carbon monoxide detector from going off in the middle of the night is by changing the battery of the detector immediately after it gets low. If the detector comes with a non-removable battery, replace the detector with a new one to avoid it going off in the middle of the night.
1. Change the Detector Battery
If the low level of the battery is the major cause of the detector going off in the middle of the night without the presence of carbon monoxide in the house, then the best thing to do is to change the battery to a new one. Is it not better to replace the battery with a new one to stop the incident from reoccurring than to let the detector wake you and the whole household in the middle of the night?
If you discover that the carbon monoxide detector’s battery is non-removable, the only option is to replace the detector with a new one.
Even if your carbon monoxide detector is new, it can still have a battery problem. The only way to find out is by testing the battery or changing it. If the battery is not removable, then you may have to purchase another one.
2. Replace the Carbon Monoxide Detector
Some carbon monoxide detector brands require people to replace their detectors for some particular period of time. For example, Kidde recommends those using their carbon monoxide detector to replace the detector after 10 years.
If your carbon monoxide detector has been in use for a while, you may want to replace it with a new one. If you are not sure how old the detector is, replace it with a new one. The work the detector does in the house is worth every penny you spend on it.
If you don’t know how long your carbon monoxide detector should last before changing it, check the user manual that comes with the detector when you first purchased it. If you cannot find the manual, google is your friend. Google it out or find how to reach the brand customer service and inquire from them.
3. Clean the Carbon Monoxide Detector Sensor Chamber
Sometimes, the dust and dirt in the chamber of the detector can make the detector go off. So you may want to look out for that. Ensure that the detector is not installed in a place where it is easily exposed to dust. And if you want to install the detector around the furnace, ensure it’s not too close to the furnace.
4. Check if there is a Loose Wire
You may also want to check if there is a loose wire in the detector that is making it go off in the middle of the night. Sometimes, tightening the nut of the detector can make a whole lot different.
Can Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes off for no Reason
The carbon monoxide detector cannot go off for no reason. If the detector keeps going off in the absence of a carbon monoxide gas leak in the house, check the battery life of the detector. if the battery life of the detector is low. It can trigger an internal resistance that makes the detector goes off for no reason.
What to Do When Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes off in the Middle of the Night?
If the carbon monoxide detector goes off in the middle of the night, evacuate everyone outside the building, open windows and doors for ventilation, turn off any appliances at home that produce carbon monoxide, and check if there is a carbon monoxide leak in the house.
Final Thoughts
The battery life of a carbon monoxide detector is very important. Therefore always check that the battery level of your detector is OK. Failure to do that will trigger the low-temperature level in the night to make the carbon monoxide detector goes off in the middle of the night. You can also replace the detector if the battery is non-removable or if the detector is an old one.
