3 Carbon Monoxide alarms Consumer Reports labels 'Don't Buy: Safety Risk'

In Consumer Reports' most recent tests of carbon monoxide alarms, three similar-looking off-brand alarms-- the Foho YJ-806, the GoChange 882 LCD and the NetBoat WB_H3110061-- sold on Amazon and eBay, failed critical performance tests and have been labeled Don't Buy: Safety Risk.

CO alarms are designed to sound before the level of carbon monoxide in a person's bloodstream would reach a dangerous level.

"We test each carbon monoxide alarm at two CO levels. First we test at 100 parts per million, where the alarm should sound after about 40 minutes. Then we test at 400 parts per million, when the alarm should sound between four and 15 minutes," said Bernie Deitrick, Consumer Reports Engineer.

All three alarms failed some aspect of Consumer Reports testing-- either for going off too quickly, or not at all.

Also important, the three failed alarms do not have a UL certification, a mark given to all CO alarms that meet a voluntary industry safety standard.

If you already own one of the Foho, GoChange, or NetBoat carbon monoxide alarms, we advise that you stop using them, and replace them with one of our recommended CO alarms that do meet the UL certifications. Such as the top-rated First Alert CO615, a standalone alarm, or the First Alert OneLink SCO501CN, an interconnected alarm that syncs with multiple alarms in your home.

After being contacted by Consumer Reports, Amazon said the two products that failed the tests were no longer available for sale and the site removed similar-looking models which did not have the UL certification.

eBay responded by saying it had removed the specific carbon monoxide alarm listing from the seller and requested the seller contact any buyers of the product.

Consumer Reports does not have any reports of injuries related to the failed alarms.