co2 detectors are triggered so rarely, and it's not a property-threatening event like a fire is if you're not in the house. So I don't see what the upside would be of getting smart devices - dumb devices seem to serve their purposes fine.

We have nest doorbell, cameras and thermostat. Basic dumb fire and carbon monoxide

I have a Kiddie CO2 detector, it has high ratings.

I want Smart NOTHING for my home. No. I just had a new HVAC system put in and requested an "old-fashioned" non-Smart programmable thermostat. I'm concerned about hacking and also the more technology embedded into products, the shorter the lifespan of the item. But the hacking by far is the bigger concern.

Any why do you need a Smart Co2 detector, anyway? It's not like you have to fiddle with it or something -- just set it up and leave it be. Seriously -- people survived just fine before Smart devices. The bigger issue is people dying because of not having any smoke or Co2 detectors, not from lack of Smart technology.

Hacking? Do you think someone wants to control the heat in my house? Not likely.

Can A Nest Thermostat Be Hacked? – Smart Home Globe

We have the Nest thermostat and smoke detectors. To be completely honest I’m not convinced that the functionality that the smoke detectors offer really warrants the price. The thermostat we really do love.

By the way my husband works in an adjoining field and his approach regarding “X can be hacked” is that we’re at the point where we’re pretty much screwed anyway (unless you are actively going out of your way to avoid purchasing anything wifi-connected, don’t own a smartphone etc), so might as well enjoy the functionality that these products offer while not being too lax about setting up your network. We do draw the line at wifi-enabled cameras/monitors though, I’ve read some horror stories in my mom groups about hacked baby monitors and don’t feel that it’s worth the risk.

Risk reward is at play here. Reward of being able to access home from afar thanks to smart technology supersedes any worry I have about being hacked.

Sure, but why would you want to access your co2 detectors from afar?

I think you guys are talking about carbon monoxide (CO) detection, not carbon dioxide(CO2) detection. CO2 detectors go off when you open a soda pop can.

Seriously, I have one very, very important feature at the top of my list for smoke detectors-- a central battery back up, which is the old school way to do it. Newer detectors which may be placed 20 feet in the air, and have batteries that need to be changed every year or two are so, so irritating.

Hypothetically you should get an alert on your phone if the smoke/CO detector goes off, so if you’re at work or away you would be aware. But then again how many people would call 911 just based off of an app notification?

"I think you guys are talking about carbon monoxide (CO) detection, not carbon dioxide(CO2) detection."

HA! Yea, we did make that mistake, didn't we. :op

Yeah, I mean, I get wanting a fire alarm to alert your phone - even if the house is empty you still want the fire department to show up. If a CO detector triggers, the house isn't in danger if it's empty.

The Nest is both smoke and CO in one, I can’t imagine there would be much of a market for smart CO-only detectors

It's not your call. Install and devices are controlled by your State's new build code, (renovation and selling included). Contact your State Fire Marshall.

we have one. pros: if your house is on fire and you are not home, you can call a neighbor or 911 and potentially avoid a much bigger disaster.* con: when it gets set off from, say, cooking, the app is very slow to respond. so I wind up standing on a chair to poke the button anyway.

we only put one of these in the house though. the other floors got the cheap regular smoke/co2 detectors.

*for what it's worth, security and avoiding disasters is half the reason why we have our smart devices. for example, our smart thermostat helps us save energy, but it also reminds us to turn up the heat if it drops to mega freezing temps outside when we're on vacation-- so you don't come home to frozen / burst pipes.

as far as being hacked: make sure you have a strong password, 2 factor authentication, and secure wifi. all things you should be doing anyway.

If I could edit the title and message I would but this is what we want to buy:

Google Nest Protect - Smoke Alarm - Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector

The home is actually for my aging parents and I would feel more comfortable monitoring the home w my iPhone.

Appreciate everyones help and suggestions.

I have WiFi-connected thermostats, so I can control and monitor the temperature when I'm away. Back when I would leave for a week or so, I'd turn the thermostat down to 40 when I left and up to 70 when I started my 6 hour return trip home; it takes that long to heat up the house - one of the characteristics of in-floor radiant heat. Is it a feature or a bug? you decide.

"The home is actually for my aging parents and I would feel more comfortable monitoring the home w my iPhone."

Have you asked them how they feel about it?

Should I be reading your comment with tone or no?

No tone. Just a simple question. Sometimes we have good intentions and do what we think is best without taking into account how others may feel about it. The decision to have their home monitored should be theirs, not yours.

Your situation sounds like the perfect use case for something like this. The other nice thing is that they remind you A LOT once the expiration dates are coming up, so one less thing to worry about remembering.

mxk3 z5b_Mi - thanks but no thanks

Sacha smart technology sounds like a great fit for your family. Good luck.

somebody else monitoring my home without asking me about it first is pretty much the exact reason I would never allow such a device in my home, so I presume you're being flip.

the other reason is that things like smart locks and cameras have already been put to dire use by abusive spouses and ex's (wait until somebody is out, then change the locks! whee!). hacking doesn't have to be by a malevolent stranger.

The reason to have CO detector alert you when one is away is if there is a pet in the house, no? Or maybe it’s helpful to have a ”smart” system for an elderly or a deaf person.

I see great value in knowing whether even an empty house has a high CO level. That is a serious problem you want to get fixed right away. Better to hear that alarm while you're away during the day, and you can call for repair service during the workday, rather than deal with it when you come home at 11 pm. I agree it is a highly unlikely occurrence.

Personally, I'm fine with "dumb" smoke detectors and CO detectors, though I can see why it might be handy in the aging-parent situation. Yes, I'm concerned about expensive things becoming obsolete.

As for elderly or deaf people, just a note: my daughter was assigned to a "handicapped room" in the dorms -- not that she needed it, just by chance. We looked up and down and wondered, "What about this room is special?" First time the fire alarm went off, she found out: the fire alarm wasn't just a noise in her room. It was accompanied by a blindingly bright, pulsing light that literally could wake her from sound sleep, even if she hadn't been able to hear the noise. She said the light was actually painful. I had never known such a thing existed. Is such a thing available for home use? I dunno.

Back to the point: DEFINITELY have some sort of a CO detector. A friend of ours died from CO2 poisoning, and it was heartbreaking -- he'd only been retired a year, was devoted to his two grandchildren, and should have had many years left to him. What a stupid, stupid thing to take him away from his family.

We did traditional smoke and CO, but supplemented with a couple tied to our SimpliSafe system for remote monitoring capabilities.

We have them in two houses. Remote monitoring was one reason we choose them. Another is the night light feature, which is nice for young children, older people and guests. Works via motion and casts a nice light to navigate at night. I have it turned on for the common areas of the houses.