bit-tech Shopping: Kidde #900-0113-02 CO Explosive Gas Alarm

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Multiple mounting options, battery backup, nice display, detailed user manual, natural gas and propane detection

Weaknesses: None

Summary: For those of you that are unsure of where to put a unit like this, rest assured, Kidde has you covered. I wondered as well. The plug on the back is actually removable (with attached cord). This is not apparent when looking at the packaging. This allows you to plug the unit as purchased right into an outlet, or with the plug detached, you can place the detector on a desk or counter or even mount it to the wall (needed for best detection of natural gas). Screws for wall mount are included in the package. This gives you choices to fit most needs. And depending on your needs for the explosive gas detector, you will want to mount it differently. For natural gas, it is suggested to mount it up high on the wall (but not closer than 6" from ceiling). If you are detecting propane, a lower mount point is suggested - or you could just plug it in to most any outlet as most outlets are lower to the ground. I have a couple of kids and this has been weighing on me for some time. Now I no longer worry about it. The display is simple and easy to read and the manual comes with some very useful and detailed information on what levels of CO are okay and which levels you should quickly evacuate from. It's nice to know it's working so I have one less worry. I highly recommend this for anyone, but especially if you have kids. A CO detector is a must in any home!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2

Strengths: Attractive unit. Explosive gas and CO detector. 3 mounting options (desk, direct plug-in or wall mount). Battery backup. Memory.

Weaknesses: None found.

Summary: I like the mounting options provided by this unit. It can be directly plugged into an outlet, you can set it on a desk or you can mount it on a wall. This is the first unit I've owned, but it has given me surprising peace of mind since installation. We have had a number of times over the last several years where our heater stopped working and we didn't know the cause or if the problem was presenting a health hazard. Both my husband and I would be slow to get moving anyway (if it would even be possible to realize with CO poisoning). But having this detector has really given us peace of mind. And it's nice to look at the display and see the 0 (zero) displayed when all is okay. Plus with the explosive gas detector, it's an added bonus. This unit detects both natural gas and propane which should suit most people. We use natural gas, so we mounted ours up higher on the wall as recommended in the user guide. If you use propane, mounting lower is recommended (per user guide). If you do not have one of these units, I would really recommend one just for peace of mind. If you ever have a problem, you'll be glad you have it.