Carbon Monoxide Detector Information

To learn more about the Underwriters Laboratory standards, visit the UL website. The actual standards can be purchased for a hefty fee, but you can read about the scope of the requirements for free. An article entitled "Product Safety Tips: Carbon Monoxide" is especially helpful.

The National Conference of State Legislatures provides a complete list of statutes regarding the installation of carbon monoxide detectors.

WebMD.com has helpful tips on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning and choosing a carbon monoxide detector.

CarbonMonoxideKills.com has useful information on how to keep your home safe, what carbon monoxide detectors are and how they work, and the symptoms of various levels of exposure to CO among other useful information.

There's some good general information at About.com on carbon monoxide detectors, including placement tips. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

If you worry about your carbon monoxide alarm sounding when you're away from home, especially if there are pets, children, elderly or hearing-impaired family members alone at home, Mayday Mayday! Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Messenger 2.0 software (*est. $60) uses your computer's microphone to listen for smoke and CO detector alarms, then uses your Internet connection to send urgent phone calls or e-mails wherever you specify, including the fire department. You can try it free for 30 days at Download.com.

Manufacturers' websites:

Kidde (UTC)

First Alert (Jarden)

American Sensors Inc. (Jarden)

BRK (Jarden)

TTI (KWJ Engineering)