The answer to 'how does carbon monoxide detector work' is that a carbon monoxide (CO) detector is a safety device that monitors the air for the presence of this odorless, colorless, and toxic gas. When the detector senses dangerous levels of CO, it triggers an alarm to alert the homeowner of the potential hazard. CO detectors typically use electrochemical sensors or semiconductor sensors to detect the gas and sound the alarm.
Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels like natural gas, propane, wood, coal, and oil. Appliances like furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and gas stoves can be sources of CO if they are not properly installed, maintained, or ventilated. A CO detector provides an early warning system to protect against CO poisoning, which can be fatal at high concentrations.