--- title: "Ask a gas safety officer: What kind of carbon monoxide detector should I look for? | Technical Safety BC" description: Here are the most important things to know when you are choosing a new carbon monoxide detector. image: https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CO-Detector.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/blog/ask-gas-safety-officer-what-kind-carbon-monoxide-detector-should-i-look#main-content) [![Technical Safety BC colour logo with gear](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/TSBC_Stacked_RGB%20300%20dpi%20-%20transparent%20background-1.png?width=600&height=179&name=TSBC_Stacked_RGB%20300%20dpi%20-%20transparent%20background-1.png "Technical Safety BC colour logo with gear")](https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/) [Visit main site](https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/) [Contact us](https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/contact/contact-us) [Back to blog](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/) # Ask a gas safety officer: What kind of carbon monoxide detector should I look for? January 2, 2019 3 Minute read ![](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CO-Detector.png)   When looking for a carbon monoxide detector, there are a few important considerations. The most important is that it has a Canadian certification label referencing the following standard: CSA 6.19, Residential carbon monoxide alarming devices.   Always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s installation/operating instructions for the specific model you purchase. These instructions contain valuable information such as what the carbon monoxide device sensing and alarming thresholds will be. > The most important \[consideration\] is that it has a Canadian certification label referencing the following standard: CSA 6.19, Residential carbon monoxide alarming devices. Other tips: - If your CO detector is battery-operated, be sure to test it regularly. - CO detectors have a lifespan of seven to 10 years. Check the date on the CO detector and replace when necessary. If your CO detector does not have a date, it is likely older than 10 years and needs to be replaced. - If you live in a rental that does not have a CO detector that is hard-wired in, purchase a variety that plugs in directly to the wall or that is battery-operated. However, make sure if you have a plug-in variety it also has a battery back up in case of power outage. - When travelling, pack a portable battery-operated CO detector.  - CO detectors should ideally be placed near sleeping areas. - Remember that installation of hard-wired CO detectors must be done under permit, either by a licensed electrical contractor ([find one here](https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/regulatory-resources/find-a-licensed-contractor)) or under a homeowner permit.  Learn more about the [symptoms of CO and what to do if your alarm does go off.](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/how-identify-symptoms-carbon-monoxide-poisoning?hsLang=en)  Share this article: [![Share on Facebook](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hubfs/raw_assets/public/technical-safety-bc/images/facebook-blue.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.technicalsafetybc.ca%2Fblog%2Fask-gas-safety-officer-what-kind-carbon-monoxide-detector-should-i-look%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hubfs/raw_assets/public/technical-safety-bc/images/linkedin-blue.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.technicalsafetybc.ca%2Fblog%2Fask-gas-safety-officer-what-kind-carbon-monoxide-detector-should-i-look%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hubfs/raw_assets/public/technical-safety-bc/images/twitter-blue.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.technicalsafetybc.ca%2Fblog%2Fask-gas-safety-officer-what-kind-carbon-monoxide-detector-should-i-look%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.technicalsafetybc.ca%2Fblog%2Fask-gas-safety-officer-what-kind-carbon-monoxide-detector-should-i-look%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Ask%20a%20gas%20safety%20officer%3A%20What%20kind%20of%20carbon%20monoxide%20detector%20should%20I%20look%20for%3F%20%7C%20Technical%20Safety%20BC) [![Share on Email](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hubfs/raw_assets/public/technical-safety-bc/images/email-blue.svg)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.technicalsafetybc.ca%2Fblog%2Fask-gas-safety-officer-what-kind-carbon-monoxide-detector-should-i-look%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.technicalsafetybc.ca%2Fblog%2Fask-gas-safety-officer-what-kind-carbon-monoxide-detector-should-i-look%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ## Subscribe for safety updates and insights ## Browse topics - [Homeowner](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/homeowner) - [Gas](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/gas) - [Contractor](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/contractor) - [Electrical](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/electrical) - [Asset Owner](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/asset-owner) - [Ask A Safety Officer](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/ask-a-safety-officer) - [Homeowner Safety](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/homeowner-safety) - [Passenger Ropeways](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/passenger-ropeways) - [Boiler, PV and Refrigeration](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/boiler-pv-and-refrigeration) - [Carbon Monoxide](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/carbon-monoxide) - [Public Safety](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/public-safety) - [Amusement Devices](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/amusement-devices) - [Elevating Devices](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/elevating-devices) - [Railways](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/railways) - [Alternative Safety Approaches](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/alternative-safety-approaches) - [CO Alarm](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/co-alarm) - [Client Support](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/client-support) - [Smarter Safety](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/smarter-safety) - [FSR](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/fsr) - [Camping](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/camping) - [Chairlift](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/chairlift) - [Corporate news](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/corporate-news) - [RV safety](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/rv-safety) - [Skiing](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/skiing) - [Travel](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/travel) - [Vacation](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/vacation) - [extreme heat](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/extreme-heat) - [snowboarding](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/tag/snowboarding) ## Related articles ![](https://blog.technicalsafetybc.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-14167_web.jpg?width=352&name=pexels-photo-14167_web.jpg) ### Ask an electrical safety officer: Is a permit needed to install or replace a light fixture? 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