Kidde KN-COPP-3 (900-0099) - Manual (Page 18)

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Part Six – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I tried to test the alarm (see below) and it still reads “0.”
Why?
– by running the car in the garage
– by holding it to the tailpipe of the car
– by putting it next to the furnace vent
A. DO NOT try to test your alarm by doing any of the
above! Testing the alarm using any of the methods listed
above usually does not yield satisfactory results and could in
fact be dangerous to your health. To accurately test the
alarm, please follow the guidelines given on page 8.
Never operate a vehicle in a closed garage, as high levels of
CO can be built up in a short time. With an attached
garage, dangerous CO levels develop inside the home as
well as within the garage.
Attempting to test the sensor function by holding the alarm
next to a tailpipe or furnace vent may not cause a reading
on the display because today’s vehicles emit very little CO
once the engine reaches operating temperature. Likewise,
many of today’s high efficiency furnaces emit very low lev-
els of CO.
Q. When I tried to test the unit I got a high number on the
digital display, but the alarm didn’t sound immediately.
Why?
A. Please refer to “How the unit determines when to
alarm” on page 14 for an explanation of the “time weight-
ed alarm.”
Q. Will the alarm last longer if I unplug it during the
summer months and only use it during the winter?
A. No. Some components of the alarm can deteriorate over
t
ime if not used regularly. We recommend the alarm be
plugged in continuously for maximum alarm life.
Q. I use the alarm in a vacation home that isn’t always
occupied and can have temperature extremes when no one
is there (no heat or no air conditioning). Will that hurt the
alarm? Should I leave it plugged in all the time?
A. We recommend that your alarm not be installed in areas
where temperatures fall below 40˚F (4.4˚C) or rise above
100˚F (37.8˚C). Your alarm was designed to be constantly
plugged in for maximum performance.
Q. I plugged in the alarm at my house (my parents’, my
neighbors’, etc.) and it read “0.” Does that mean every-
thing is OK? (I’m thinking I can return the alarm since
everything checks out OK.)
A. This CO alarm is not designed for use as a short-term test-
ing device to perform a quick check for the presence of CO.
Remember, a carbon monoxide problem can occur at any
time, even after a professional inspection has determined
that everything is in proper working order. Examples of
problems that can develop are a crack in a furnace heat
exchanger, a leak in a water heater vent, or a bird’s nest
blocking a flue.
Other sources are nearly impossible to detect: even a
change in the air pressure outside can turn a normally safe
situation deadly. That’s why you need the 24-hour protec-
tion provided by a CO alarm.
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