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Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ratings of Sources
Total of 12 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Feb. 2008
Buyer's Guide to Smoke and Carbon-Monoxide Alarms
by Editors of Consumer Reports
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Consumer Reports publishes the most thorough comparative ratings of CO detectors we found, which includes an explanation of the magazine's test methods and ratings system. The editors cover 20 models, with… all power options represented, and they also include combination smoke/CO detectors and hardwired alarms that can warn about CO remotely. This timely review is useful for consumers looking for a quick responding and accurate CO detector, but only website subscribers can view the ratings.

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2. AviationConsumer.com
Nov. 2005
Carbon Monoxide Alarms: CO Experts is a Top Value
by Ben Barnard
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

AviationConsumer.com contributor Ben Barnard reviews five carbon monoxide detectors suitable for an airplane's cockpit, ranging from less expensive portable devices to a panel-mount device that offers a… clock and voltage monitoring with CO detection. The CO Experts Model 1070 and Pocket CO by TTI are considered the best values. The portable SafeTest 90 is rated best overall but is expensive. Although this website caters to aviators, some of the portable CO detectors are suitable for use on boats and recreational vehicles.

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3. Amazon.com
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

CO detectors from Kidde and First Alert are the main models rated here with a few reviews for models from other brands such as BRK. Kidde detectors receive the most reviews, although both Kidde and First… Alert receive very good ratings overall. Some contributors note the frequency of replacing backup batteries for both brands, along with some false alarms. Given the large number of owner-written reviews, Amazon.com is a good place to check once you've narrowed your choice down to a couple of models.

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4. Alarmspecs.com
Dec. 1, 2008
Alarm Specification Comparison
by Editors of Alarmspecs.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This single-page site rates nearly 200 models of carbon monoxide, heat, and smoke detectors based on life-saving features. No detector receives a perfect score of 12. Based on the editor's scoring, the top-ranked models are the First Alert GCO1CN, the Kidde 900-0113/KN-COEG-3, and the Kidde Combo 900-0114/KN-COSM-IB. There's no narrative evaluation here, and ratings are based solely on features.
5. About.com
Sept. 16, 2007
Buying Carbon Monoxide Detectors
by Rod Brouhard
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

About.com's first-aid guide, Rod Brouhard, briefly discusses how carbon monoxide detectors work and the features found on different models. Brouhard offers a sampling of various types of carbon monoxide… detectors including combination smoke-and-CO models and CO-only models. Unfortunately, there's no explanation for why these models are included and rated versus the competition. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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6. Sensible Home
Household carbon monoxide detector/alarms protect your family
by James Dulley
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment James Dulley is an environmental engineer and syndicated columnist. His bulletin lists manufacturers of CO detectors and features of various models. He doesn't make any specific recommendations and doesn't provide any ratings of carbon monoxide detectors. The general information here is good, but the product information is outdated.
7. The New York Times
Jan. 18, 2004
Your Home; Detecting Carbon Monoxide
by Jay Romano
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment New York Times writer Jay Romano makes a case for residential CO detectors. Spokespeople from Senco Sensors and Aprilaire were interviewed for the article, and thus those models are recommended, although reference is made to Consumer Reports' 2001 findings. The Detectagas CO test kit from Aprilaire is also mentioned. Romano discusses important features but stops short of rating models.
8. USA Today Magazine
Mar. 2004
Silencing the silent killer - What's New?
by Editors of USA Today magazine
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment USA Today magazine also makes a case for residential CO detectors, and it mentions the Kidde Nighthawk 900-0076 as "highly recommended," although the author doesn't offer any comparisons or ratings of other models.
9. Indoor Environment Notebook
Apr. 30, 2004
Everything you wanted to know about indoor air pollution and more
by Thad Godish, Ph.D.
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this Q&A about CO poisoning, Dr. Thad Godish of Ball State University recommends CO detectors with digital displays that store peak CO levels in memory. He mentions the Kidde Nighthawk 900-0076 as having these features, being highly regarded, and performing well in testing. He doesn't mention or rate any other models.
10. ConsumerGuide.com
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors Reviews and Prices
by Editors of Consumer Guide
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Consumer Guide reviews and rates three combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The "Expert" rating is based on a five-point scale measuring value, performance, ease of use, and features. Among the three detectors, the Kidde Nighthawk KN-COSM-IB is considered the best buy. It appears that none of the models were tested, which is why this review is not highly rated here.
11. Epinions.com
Carbon monoxide detectors
by Contributors to Epinions.com
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Several carbon monoxide detectors are listed, but only a handful are reviewed, and each model only gets one user review. Because there are so few reviews and because carbon monoxide detectors are so hard to track down on this site, we found it not very useful.
12. PriceGrabber.com
CO detector ratings
by Contributors to Pricegrabber.com
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Only two carbon monoxide detectors currently receive reviews here: the Kidde 900-0146 and the First Alert SCO501CN-3ST. Only a few users review each one, and both models receive perfect scores from all the reviewers.

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