HomeKit compatible smart monitor goes live
Netatmo has expanded its range of smart home equipment with a Carbon Monoxide Alarm.
In some ways it sounds like the ultimate low-fuss smart carbon monoxide detector. Although it’s HomeKit compatible it doesn’t not need a hub to operate, letting you use it without owning any other Netatmo gear.
The battery lasts the full operating lifespan of the CO sensor inside, 10 years. This maximum lifespan is common to all of these detectors, smart or otherwise, because the components degrade over time.
And while an older one might work in practice, manufacturers like Netatmo have to be able to say, with certainty, they are reliable for their rated service window.
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Its core feature is, of course, the same as what you’ll find in cheaper, basic CO detectors. It has a loud 85-decibel alarm that lets you know to get out of your home.
The difference in the Netatmo Carbon Monoxide Alarm is it will send you a notification using its Wi-Fi connection if it detects CO and you’re not at home. Its periodic auto self-testing also highlights any issues with the hardware, of if the battery is about to run down.
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It may appear expensive at first at £99.99 (US pricing TBC), but the outlay is far less of an issue for most when you consider its decade-long usefulness.
A Netatmo Carbon Monoxide Alarm also looks a lot more attractive on the wall than most standard CO detectors.
The Nest Protect is perhaps the most well-known alternative. It has a wider feature set, as it detects both smoke and carbon monoxide, but its battery-powered version uses AA cells, which last around five years before needing to be replaced.
Netatmo chooses instead to split smoke and CO detection across two devices. It launched the Netatmo Smart Smoke Alarm back in 2017, which again has a 10-year battery.
Why split them up? While a multi-sensor device is preferable in a lot of homes, some rooms that suit a CO detector will result in too-frequent alarms from a smoke detector.
Neither of these alarms require a professional installation, unless you’re particularly bad at DIY. It has mounting points on the back, and you get two screw and a pair of wall-plugs in the box.
You can pre-order a £99.99 Netatmo Carbon Monoxide Alarm from the company’s own store today, for delivery from 16 November.
