To determine if your smoke detector also detects carbon monoxide (CO), you can check the labelling and specifications on the device itself. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are clearly labelled with both “Smoke” and “Carbon Monoxide” or “CO” on the front of the device. The user manual with the detector will also specify whether it is a combination unit. Many combination detectors also have different lights or sounds to distinguish between smoke and carbon monoxide alerts. For instance, a flashing red light may indicate smoke, while a flashing green or yellow light might signal a CO alert. The alarm sounds may also differ, with continuous beeps for one type of detection and shorter beeps for the other. If unsure, the product packaging or model number can be used to look up the features online or in the manual. If your detector does not mention carbon monoxide, it is likely only a smoke detector, and you may need to purchase a separate CO detector to ensure complete protection.
