Carbon monoxide is a very deadly substance. In concentrated levels, it can be damaging to living creatures, if not fatal. It’s a very real danger, and can come from numerous sources—And, in the interests of safety, it’s a good idea to try and compensate for that.

"But how, do we do that?" you ask. A very good question, and one with a very simple solution: Carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide detectors are surprisingly simple devices. A sensor inside the detector measures the concentration of CO gasses in the surrounding area, in what is referred to as "parts per million" (ppm for short). Sensors in the United States are calibrated to specific safety standards, and when those standards are exceeded, the sensor sends a signal to the alarm.

Depending on the level of carbon monoxide concentration in the area, an alarm may sound faster. If concentrations are low, they usually can respond within an hour. In high concentrations, it sounds in minutes—Usually with a very shrill alarm that’s slightly quieter than your average lawnmower.

There’s a few ways that these detectors pick up on carbon monoxide levels in an area. Biometric sensors mimic the effect of CO on the blood, and sound an alarm based on that. Metal oxide semiconductors are another type, which measures carbon monoxide’s effect on an electrical current through a microchip; These usually are plugged directly into walls, to provide their power. Electrochemical sensors are a third type that works much like the metal oxide ones—They just use a chemical solution to measure electrical response, rather than a microchip.

Regardless of the type of carbon monoxide detector you want, it’s still a great idea to install them throughout the home. Carbon monoxide can come from a variety of sources—Some likely, some not—and can be dangerous from any of them. When establishing a line of fire safety devices in your home, these are an absolute must-have.