Do I need a CO Detector if we have no gas appliances?

[lynxstch]

Wow we are in MD and I had no idea that was a law.

I will get one anyway but on which level should I install it? We live in a 3 story townhome.

we have a 2 story home, and have one in the cellar where the furnace and wood stove are..and another one outside the master bedroom..they were only around $25 when we got them so we wanted the extra safety of having 2..they plug in to the wall outlets but have a battery backup

 

[Free4Life11]

CO2 = carbon DIoxide
CO = carbon MONoxide

just saying...

Was just going to say that hehe. That's about the only thing I remember from chemistry class!

 

[LadyShiva]

CO2 = carbon DIoxide
CO = carbon MONoxide

just saying...

CO2 travels with the smoke and heat from a fire(up), CO follows the ground, right?

Good lord, I'm going to have to go look that up...

Brandie

 

[ducklite]

CO2 = carbon DIoxide
CO = carbon MONoxide

just saying...

Sorry, I didn't take chemistry. I prefered hacking up frogs in biology.

 

[daisax]

Here's a description of the Massachusetts law:

Under new legislation signed into law in Nov 2005 by Gov. Mitt Romney, Massachusetts has become the ninth state in the U.S. to require carbon monoxide detectors for residential dwellings. The measure takes effect on March 31, 2006 and applies to single and multi-family housing units as well as large complexes like hotels, motels and college dorms. Housing units that have enclosed parking or equipment such as boilers, furnaces or hot water heaters powered by gas, coal, oil, or wood will be required to have a working CO detector in place. In most instances compliance with the law will simply require installation of a battery powered or plug in detector. However, hard-wired detectors will be required for large buildings with multiple units and other special cases. These properties will have until Jan 1, 2007 to comply. Enforcement will be carried out by local fire departments during home inspections PRIOR to the sale or transfer of property.

 

[almacdonald]

CO2 travels with the smoke and heat from a fire(up), CO follows the ground, right?

Good lord, I'm going to have to go look that up...

Brandie

Nope both are heavier than 'air' and sink. For a fun science project, 1) light a candle, 2) put a small amount of baking soda in a measuring cup with a pouring spout, 3)add a small amount of vinegar into the measuring cup, 4) watch the foam= carbon DIoxide, 5) 'pour' the CO2 over the candle flame and the flame should extinguish.

Same kind of idea ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShE7ZNA380

Yes I'm a geek, whatcha gonna do about it?

 

[mrsv98]

In IL it bacame law in Jan. You have to have one within xx number of feet from each bedroom, I think 10 ft but I am not sure. We have one hard-wired into our alarm system and another battery operated one that sits on a table in the hall outside the bedrooms.

They are so cheap now, I would get one regardless.

 

[LadyShiva]

Nope both are heavier than 'air' and sink. For a fun science project, 1) light a candle, 2) put a small amount of baking soda in a measuring cup with a pouring spout, 3)add a small amount of vinegar into the measuring cup, 4) watch the foam= carbon DIoxide, 5) 'pour' the CO2 over the candle flame and the flame should extinguish.

Same kind of idea ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShE7ZNA380

Yes I'm a geek, whatcha gonna do about it?

Fire guy just told me fires don't create CO2, they create CO.

But beyond that, this is what a phone call got me:

- Use one of each type, and bunches of them.
- For each floor, have a CO detector that plugs in. Bonus points for one near a furnace, water heater, or the garage. You WANT the bonus points.
- Where smoke would collect, get a photovoltaic/ionic combination Smoke and CO detector, hopefully wired into the house power.
- House-wired smoke detectors need to be replaced every 8-10 years (my house is OVERDUE... Guess what DH's doing this weekend! )
- Use a photovoltaic/ionic smoke detector for kitchen fires, but do it away from the stove, but where smoke would logically flow from the stove or oven. As in, don't do it above a heat source, but still near to it.

Hope that helps! Oh, and OP, you're on DH's blacklist for getting him more work!

Brandie

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Hope that helps! Oh, and OP, you're on DH's blacklist for getting him more work!

Brandie

HA no worries. DH has to go out and buy 3 CO detectors this weekend - that wasn't in the budget but oh well.

 

[LadyShiva]

HA no worries. DH has to go out and buy 3 CO detectors this weekend - that wasn't in the budget but oh well.

Fire guy said to use both plug in types and the high on the wall mounted type for complete coverage.

Brandie

 

[DVCKennyD]

Hello,

Although not technically needed in your particular situation, CO detectors are cheap enough nowadays that there really is no reason not to have them.CO is a by-product of "incomplete" combustion of fossil fuels... Without any appliances utilizing these fuels: gas furnaces or boilers,water heaters, etc... there would be no source of CO.

As far as the amount and location, I tell my customers that they should have one for each level of the house... IMO, the amount mentioned by the "fire guy" is overkill. They should not be located adjacent to furnaces or water heaters, unless you want false alarms... They are really intended to monitor for a build up of CO in the living space and sound the alarm when the CO level surpasses a predetermined thresh hold.

Ken