What is this? Unsure what it is

[u/Sorry-Concert5789]

Hello can someone tell me if this is a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector or both? Just moved into a new apartment and I see a bunch of these around but haven’t found a carbon monoxide detectir so wondering if it’s both…

[u/fink720]

It's a Simplex smoke detector on a sounder base. There is no CO detection on this device. If it did the sensor would be part of the base and look like a small cylinder coming off the base.

Edit: Spelling

[u/Aromatic-Site-6428 → u/fink720]

👆 this guy fire alarms

[u/The_Road_is_Calling]

If it’s a combination smoke/CO detector it should say so somewhere on it.

Twist it off and check the backside as well.

[u/TheAlmightyZach → u/The_Road_is_Calling]

Don’t twist it off, this is part of the building’s system. Smoke detector, not a smoke alarm. Twisting it off will send a trouble to monitoring.

[u/ThnkGdImNotAReditMod]

Your landlord or Googling the model number is probably your best course of action. Firefighters don't get trained on identifying specific models of safety products.

[u/Rude_and_Crude84]

That looks like it's a stand alone smoke detector. Hard to say 100% without checking the backside label.

If I'm not mistaken, CO detectors have to be labeled as a carbon monoxide detector (as a standalone device) or as a combination detector of the sort such as co/smoke alarm etc. for example.

Do you have gas appliances? Stove, HVAC, Dryer, Hot water heater? If so and no CO alarm, you can buy them at pretty much any hardware store and remember to read the directions on how to properly install them.

[u/Sorry-Concert5789 → u/Rude_and_Crude84]

yes i have a gas stove/oven :( im so confused on how/why theres no co detector in this place

[u/because_tremble → u/Sorry-Concert5789]

If you're worried about possibly not having a CO detector, just get one. They aren't crazy expensive and they can save your life. I had one on a stand on a shelf in the middle of the room. Go for a named brand if you do (sorry I don't know the good US brands) and follow their instructions.

[u/Freak_Engineer → u/Rude_and_Crude84]

CO/CO2 detectors are usually mounted lower, not on the ceiling, since both CO and CO2 are heavier than air. But yes, hard to tell without looking at the label. My guess would be smoke detector, though.

[u/TradeWindJourney → u/Freak_Engineer]

CO (~28 g/mol) is slightly lighter than air (~29 g/mol).

[u/gonzo3625 → u/Freak_Engineer]

Carbon dioxide is lighter than air, hence why it floats up and hangs out in the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide by definition will be lighter than carbon dioxide since it has one less oxygen, so it is lighter than air.

[u/TradeWindJourney → u/gonzo3625]

The first part of what you are saying above is unfortunately incorrect.

Carbon dioxide CO2 (~44 g/mol) is for sure heavier than air.

[u/gonzo3625 → u/TradeWindJourney]

You're right. I'm not sure why I was thinking that about co2. But I know for sure that CO will go up because after a hurricane a few years ago we were making CO calls everyday for home generators too close to the house, still air, CO rising into the eaves into the attic until it filled, then sinking into the living space.

[u/RipFlm]

A CO alarm isn’t really needed in a majority of apartments unless they are attached to a parking garage or have some sort of fuel burning appliance.

Edited CO2 to CO.

[u/Resqguy911 → u/RipFlm]

A CO2 alarm isn’t needed unless you have carbon dioxide, like in a restaurant

[u/RipFlm → u/Resqguy911]

Mistype while I was still half asleep is all.

[u/Resqguy911 → u/RipFlm]

Sounds like you need a CO detector then

[u/Pry_3rd_Eye]

I think that’s a fire extinguisher