Exact model-family answer directory
ADT Carbon Monoxide Detector troubleshooting
ADT Carbon Monoxide Detector (SSCO5R0): the invisible-gas alarm; what owners run into; how to approach a fault; placement; when it sounds; end of life, and a fix for each symptom below.
- The invisible-gas alarmThe ADT carbon monoxide detector warns of a gas you cannot see or smell and reports to the panel. It has a limited life and should never be ignored.
Confirm the model first
Which units this covers, and how to tell yours is one of them
- Model numbers and patterns
- SSCO5R0
- Not applicable to this hardware
- This ADT Carbon Monoxide Detector does not have the hardware for: will not stay connected to Wi-Fi; does not respond to voice control; video is blurry, dark, frozen or delayed; misses motion or records too many events; shared users or family members cannot control it; will not connect through Matter, HomeKit or another platform; firmware update is stuck or failed.
Published specification
What is true of this model and changes how you fix it
- What it isA carbon-monoxide-only detector (model SSCO5R0) that operates continuously regardless of arm state, sounding locally and alerting the Base — and the ADT Monitoring Center on professionally monitored plans.
- Does not detectThis is the CO-only model — a different physical device from ADT's Smoke Detector, Heat Detector, and the combined Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector.
- PowerTwo CR123A batteries, included — fewer than the Smoke Detector's three or the Glass Break Sensor's four.
- What owners run intoReports include chirps at end of life, false alarms near fuel-burning appliances and a detector placed too near a window.
- How to approach a faultTreat every alarm as real, leave the building, and replace a detector at the end of its life.
- PlacementPut detectors on each level and outside sleeping areas, away from fuel-burning appliances' exhausts, steam and drafts. Do not cover them.
- When it soundsGet everyone into fresh air and call the emergency services. Do not go back in to investigate. Have the appliances checked before using them again.
- End of lifeMost detectors expire in five to seven years. Write the replacement date on a note near the panel.
- Reading the symptomsCarbon monoxide causes headaches, dizziness, nausea and confusion, often in several people at once. If these symptoms ease when you leave the house, suspect the gas. Have fuel-burning appliances serviced yearly and never run a generator indoors.
- Placement near sleeping areasA CO detector outside bedrooms protects sleepers, and detectors on each floor protect the rest. Keep them clear of curtains and furniture, away from fuel-burning appliances' flues and out of damp bathrooms. Test the detector monthly and check the end-of-life date.
- Spare detectors and batteriesKeep a spare battery of the type the manual lists and a spare detector, since an expired unit should be replaced the same day. Buy detectors through the installer or a reputable shop, and check that a replacement is compatible with your panel. Write the replacement date on the back and on a calendar so that you remember. Test monthly and keep a list of where each detector is located.
Where these figures were read. help.adt.com/article/blu-adt-co-detector ("ADT Blu- Carbon Monoxide Detector (SSCO5R0)")
Manufacturer support for this product line. ADT Support — ADT Blu- Carbon Monoxide Detector (SSCO5R0). ADT's own overview and setup article for the standalone Carbon Monoxide Detector, which does not detect smoke or fire.
Also read for this model. SafeWise — ADT troubleshooting guide.
Exact questions
Questions that only have an answer for the ADT Carbon Monoxide Detector
Does this detector also cover smoke?+
No. ADT documents this as a carbon-monoxide-only model (SSCO5R0). Covering both requires either the separate Smoke Detector alongside it, or the combined Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector (SSSX5R0), which is a distinct model number.
How many batteries does the CO Detector need?+
Two CR123A batteries, per ADT's own parts list — one fewer than the Smoke Detector (three) or the combined Smoke and CO Detector (three).
How long does a CO detector last?+
About five to seven years.
What should I do if it sounds?+
Leave and call emergency services.
Where should a CO detector go?+
On each level and outside bedrooms.
What if it sounds?+
Leave and call emergency services.