Universal Security Plug-in Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas A carbon monoxide alarms

1 report to CPSC, the latest made Oct 11, 2013. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search

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At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

1report to CPSC
Oct 11, 2013the latest report was made
Oct 11, 2013the earliest
1with the company’s comments

Brand: Universal Security Plug-in Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas A
Maker: UNIVERSAL SECURITY INSTRUMENTS INCMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product: Carbon monoxide alarmsCPSC’s product type: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (code 712), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Home Security

By month

1 report from November 2012 to October 2013; the most in October 2013, 1.

The numbers, as a table

Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
Month	Reports
October 2013	1

How badly anyone was hurt

No one hurt 1 CPSC: Incident, No Injury

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

No one hurt
Made Oct 11, 2013, sent to the company Oct 24, 2013, published by CPSC Nov 7, 2013

The product, in the report: Universal Security Instruments MCND401B M Series Plug-In Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas Alarm with 9-Volt Battery Backup

Product Name: Universal Security Instruments MCND401B M Series Plug-In Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas Alarm with 9-Volt Battery Backup
I purchased this item on May 1, 2013 to help us detect natural gas. I installed this item 3 feet away from the source which is the gas range. The product works ok when you press the test button but it never detected the natural gas that filled out our house yesterday. The design is flawed and will never work when installed as designed which will give false sense of security to the consumer.
I went home yesterday with the smell of natural gas inside my home. My Mother-In-Law who stayed with us for the day accidentally left the gas range open as she does not know to operate it properly. She said that she tried to heat up her lunch at around 12:pm but no fire comes out of the range. Instead of turning the range close, she turned it the other way which goes to the lowest setting. There was no fire produced so the Natural Gas escaped and fills the air in my house for more then 4 hours. I came in at around 4:20pm from work and smelled gas right away which my Mother-In-Law did not detect. I check the range right away to see one of the switch was turned open. I closed the range, let everybody out the house and open all the doors and windows to ventilate my entire home. The 2nd floor I noticed has the stronger smell as compared to the 1st floor.
This product always test OK every time I press the test button but failed on detecting a real natural gas. I decided to test it again this time by letting the gas escape from the range for about 5 minutes with this one sitting about 2 inches from the source. Nothing happened so I tried to move his around the source but it did not detect anything. Next, I tried putting the product above the source so that the sensor if facing down as it was installed in the ceiling. The product detected the gas this time at a face down position. Well the problem is this product is a plug in type and will never work as designed. I checked online reviews of this product and most of the poor reviews have expressed the same thing while the 5 star reviewers gave it 5 star because of ease of use and/or that there is no false alarm. Well there will never be false alarm because it will never work. Below is a video review of one of the buyer I found on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2H1GI1AV9B2FY/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R2H1GI1AV9B2FY
Please investigate this product and discontinue it if necessary. Families life depend on this product functioning properly. No security is better than having false sense of security. This product cannot be trusted.

Model
MCND401B M Series
Bought from
Amazon.com
Bought
May 1, 2013
Where
National City, California: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Other Relative
As this report names them
Brand Universal Security Plug-in Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas A, made or sold by UNIVERSAL SECURITY INSTRUMENTS INC
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(10/28/2013) UNIVERSAL SECURITY INSTRUMENTS INC: Universal Security Instruments has been manufacturing Life Safety products, such as Smoke Alarms, Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Natural Gas alarms for more than 40 years. We take every consumer concern very seriously and we wish to address the concern that was recently posted about the Universal Security Plug – In Carbon Monoxide/Natural Gas Alarm (Model MCN-401), not detecting Natural Gas. Universal Security Plug in Alarms are tested and Listed to the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard 2034 (Carbon Monoxide) and 1484 (Natural Gas). The UL standard requires a Natural Gas alarm to sound when gas build up reaches a maximum of 25 % of the Lower Explosion Limit (LEL). This would be equivalent of 25% of a room being filled with pure natural gas. The 25 % LEL is the maximum alarm limit and Universal Security Instruments CO/NG alarms sound an alarm well below the maximum allowable amount. UL has determined that this is a safe level to be notified of a hazard and still have time to safely evacuate a home. These alarms can not be tested in an open room, by placing it near a burner. Not only is this dangerous (See Section from the Universal Owners Manual – Weekly Testing, below), but Natural Gas disperses very quickly and the gas coming from the stove will not reach a dangerous enough level to sound the alarm, unless the gas was left on and filled the room to 25 % of the rooms volume. Universal Alarms should be tested by pressing the test switch, which simulate gas at the hazardous level (Also as mentioned in the Section from the Universal Owners Manual – Weekly testing, below). As an additional safe guard, Universal CO/NG Alarms are designed to sound (3 Beeps approximately every minute), if the sensor becomes contaminated or does not function properly. This is very similar to the function of a Smoke Alarm; If someone holds a match to a smoke alarm (Also not recommended), the alarm would not sound, but if the room were to be filled with smoke, the alarm would sound. WEEKLY TESTING—Page 8 This alarm is designed to act as a monitor, not for use as a short-term testing device to perform a quick check for the presence of CO or gas. WARNING: Natural gas (methane) is highly explosive. Any attempt to test the unit by exposing it to natural gas outside of a controlled laboratory environment can produce an explosion and death. NEVER use a gas range or an open flame of any kind to test this alarm. You might accidentally damage or set fire to the alarm or to your home. NEVER use vehicle exhaust to test the alarm! Exhaust may cause permanent damage and voids your warranty. The built-in test switch accurately tests the alarm operation as required by ANSI/UL2034 Standard for Safety. If, at any time, you test the alarm and it does not perform as described, replace it immediately. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NATURAL GAS—Page 2 Natural gas is a fossil fuel which consists primarily of methane. This common energy source is often used for cooking, home heating and water heating. Natural gas is typically supplied through a main utility line connected to your home. It is a highly flammable chemical compound. Although it happens rarely, a natural gas leak can sometimes occur inside the home. This can be dangerous because it increases the risk of explosion and fire. Natural gas is odorless and colorless. When Mercaptan is added to natural gas as an odorant, it can then be detected by smell. Although it can vary greatly, the typical level for detection of the gas by smell is 25% of the lower explosion limit (LEL). People who have a diminished sense of smell may not be able to rely on this safety mechanism. Therefore, installation of this alarm can be an important tool to help protect you and your family. This alarm is calibrated to sound before 20% LEL Therefore, it is possible that you may smell gas before the alarm is activated. If you are not sure which gas your home uses, contact your utility company.

CPSC report 20131011-B56C2-2147451024. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Universal Security Plug-in Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas A carbon monoxide alarms

At a glance

By month

How badly anyone was hurt

The reports, as CPSC published them

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources

How to read a record

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The public record comes first.