CO alarms
A wood stove is a controlled fire with a chimney, and if the chimney fails, carbon monoxide comes into the room. A CO alarm is the cheapest safety device in the house, and it is built to wait.
Summaries of UL 2034 give alarm windows of 60 to 240 minutes at 70 ppm, 10 to 50 at 150 ppm and 4 to 15 at 400 ppm. The standard also says it must not sound below 30 ppm.
A display can show a low reading that would never set off the alarm, and that may be your first hint of a drafting problem.
Battery models work anywhere. Plug-ins with backup save changing batteries. Sealed 10-year models save both.
Sensors wear out. Check the replace-by date and write the install date on the alarm.
10-year battery · backlit display · shows CO and temperature · 85 dB · 6.4 oz
A sealed 10-year alarm with a backlit digital display, the kind of model to put near a stove.
Best for: The alarm nearest a wood stove, where you want to see a number.
≈ $44
AA battery · UL 2034 5th Edition stated · ETL listed · 85 dB · test/hush · 10-year limited warranty
The newer Kidde alarm, which names the UL 2034 5th Edition and carries a 10-year limited warranty.
Best for: A buyer who wants the standard named in writing.
≈ $25
plug-in · 2 AA backup · backlit display · 85 dB · UL 2034 5th Edition stated · rotating plug
A plug-in alarm with a CO display, a rotating plug and AA backup, naming UL 2034 5th Edition.
Best for: A bedroom or a stove room with a convenient outlet.
≈ $44
plug-in · 9V backup · 85 dB · electrochemical · 3-pack · 7-year limited warranty
A 3-pack of plug-in alarms with 9V backup and a 7-year warranty, which covers a whole floor plan.
Best for: Covering each level and bedroom at once.
≈ $71
First Alert’s listing suggests one on each level and in each bedroom. Follow local code.
Follow the manual on distance from fuel-burning appliances.
Get everyone out to fresh air, and call 911 or the fire department from there.
For heating: The alarm nearest a wood stove, where you want to see a number.
Where it does best: No batteries to change for a decade
Where it does worst: Replace the whole unit at end of life
For heating: A buyer who wants the standard named in writing.
Where it does best: Names its standard and edition
Where it does worst: No display
For heating: A bedroom or a stove room with a convenient outlet.
Where it does best: Shows CO levels
Where it does worst: Outlet needed at a suitable place
For heating: Covering each level and bedroom at once.
Where it does best: Three alarms in one buy
Where it does worst: Needs outlets at the right height
$22 – $25
3 models
$27 – $44
5 models
$50 – $71
3 models
Stove against stove, where the comparison already exists on this site.
The stoves here are taken from the catalog of this site. Specifications are the ones the manufacturer states and the ones on the Amazon page; prices are readings from Amazon.com and move often, and both change. Ranking rests on declared specifications, on stated strengths weighed against stated limits, and on price. No stove here has been lit by us, and nothing on this page suggests it has.
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