The Silent Killer

Now that most of our furnaces and fire places are blasting away it is important to take note that more than 40% of homes don’t have a functioning Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector. A few weeks ago, a family of 3 died in their living room due to carbon monoxide poisoning originating from their gas fire place.

It is disturbing to note that people would spend large amount of $$$ on booze but would not invest about $30 on a CO detector that could save the lives of loved ones. So, consider giving CO detectors as X’mas gifts this year but NOT to your wife, unless of course you enjoy being in the dog house for a good part of 2009.

PS. CO detectors have a life expectancy of 5-7 years only.

 

Great advice,and a great way to show people that you care about them this Christmas.

 

I have an electric heating system. Apparently the neighborhood developer decided that gas lines were too expensive to run through limestone.

I still have a CO detector because my garage is connected to my house. Granted - the vehicle in the garage doesn't run, but still...

 

I personally know of deaths due to people warming their cars in their garage and the CO some how infiltrated into the basement killing the residents while they slept.

 

...maybe I should go check the battery on that thing right now. That ought to wake up my roommates.

 

Be thankful you don't have gas (in your house, can't say if you personally have gas,,,LOL).

When I bought this house a year ago, I purposely refused to buy a house with natural gas. Especially here in GA since they deregulated the gas industry. My old house 4 bedroom split level: before dereg gas bill was $40-$70 a month. After dereg: Gas bill was $100 - $350 a month. Fuck the gov (PSC)! On top of the gas bill I was spending $90 on electric.

New house all electric, power bill: $60-$110.

 

That is the range that I am in. Most expensive bill during the summer - $160.

 

I do have one but I just wanted to say thanks for bringing this to the attention of others.

 

yes and for those that do not have one, you can purchase one at any lowes or homedepot or ace hardware. they are not expensive and can save lives.

 

lot of people die of CO here, the main reason is because a lot of poor people use wood furnaces without proper ventilation.... it really sucks.... be careful gents....

 

we had a co2 detector,but there was something wrong with it internally, so we got rid of it. we do plan on getting another one though..............just gotta do our homework and see what a good replacement will be for us.

 

There have been so many cases of CO poisoning in Vermont with death resulting unfortunately. Once a whole family died due to a faulty driveway de-icing system. Another a faulty furnace sent poisonous gases thru an very large apartment house killing college students and harming many other residents while they slept. The natural gas infrastructure is pretty big where I live. I have alarms on all floors of my house and have my heating system inspected yearly. Having a best friend who owns a plumbing and heating company helps.

When I sold my house 2 years ago, one of the requirements here was a working CO detector. Its inexpensive, like fire detectors. Make sure to test those too!

 

Excellent post! I had a CO poisoning experience when I was young...the H2O heater wasn't venting correctly, and ended up filling our home. I had a bad headache, tunnel vision, and just wanted to sleep. Family had the same reaction; Mom called the FD; and, firefighters had to yell and jostle me awake. Scary stuff.

BTW, I have a NIGHTHAWK CO/Gas detector, and it works well. Smart Christmas present.

 

On a similar note, please be sure you have had your chimney cleaned. Too often a dirty chimney is the cause of a fire.

 

I also have a methane detector because they are mining under my house.

 

Good post, people should have CO's in their homes.

 

I've 2 CO detectors. They saved us 2 years back. Both went off in the middle of the night. Turns out something rusted out inside the furnace and started sending the exhaust thru the heating ducts(hot air system). The detectors are cheap and use batteries. We change the batteries 2 time a year when we chance the clock time. I probably would not be making this post if we didn't have them.

 

Way to go Mr. Master!!!!!!! Great thread topic!! I hope it makes members and guests stop and think about this very important subject and save lives!!!!!

 

do they make them with a combo. say, a smoke detector and a Carbon monoxide detector all in one unit??

 

Some of the newer units have a built-in rechargeable battery that acts as a back-up during a power failure. Some units also have a built in expiry date. The count down clock starts the first day you plug it in and then dies in 7 years and makes a whole lot of noise telling you that its about to die.

People who have kitchen exhaust fans that are vented to the outside must open a window before activating these fans failing which your house will go into negative pressure causing the flue gasses to be sucked into the house. A slightly open window will prevent this from happening.