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When I work in the garage, I keep all the doors open. Is that okay? No. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ran a 5.5 horsepower gasoline-powered pressure washer in a double garage with both doors open, the window open, and a vent open. In only 12 minutes CO concentrations in the garage rose to 658 parts per million (ppm). The rate of emission from a typical gasoline engine is so large (30,000 to 100,000 ppm) that it is very difficult to provide sufficient ventilation. NIOSH warns, “Do not use equipment and tools powered by gasoline engines inside buildings…”

Do large buildings dilute carbon monoxide enough to eliminate the risk of CO poisoning? No. NIOSH investigated a case where a worker in a 48 x 88 x 14 foot room was poisoned by carbon monoxide. He was using an 8-horsepower pump and had fresh air entering the room through the forced-air heating system. Ten minutes after the pump engine was started. CO concentrations as high as 395 ppm were measured. In an Iowa case, an entire six- story hotel was filled with carbon monoxide from a single malfunctioning water heater located in the basement. Concentrations were as high as 600 ppm in a sixth-story room, a potentially lethal level.
« Last edited by username on April 16, 2018, 05:05:50 PM »

Author Topic: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?  (Read 16703 times)

Online skyguy918

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #60 on: April 17, 2018, 10:56:11 AM »
You are right about the - but I would put it at -.5 and give a -.5 back to you. The below makes sense even according to the link you posted. Although the issue they mention FWIU is more of an issue at corners than in the center where there would be more circulation.

https://www.lincolncounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/7767

Getting the Height Right
You must ensure you get your carbon monoxide detector installation height right. While some guides might recommend placing your detectors on the ceiling, we don't agree.
carbon monoxide detector attached to an exposed beam
The specific gravity of Carbon Monoxide is 0.9657 (with normal air being 1.0), this means that it will float up towards the ceiling because it is lighter than regular air. However, when a buildup of dangerous levels of CO gas is taking place, this is nearly always due to a heat source that is not burning its fuel correctly (motor vehicle exhaust fumes are an exception). This heated air can form a layer near your ceiling which can prevent the Carbon Monoxide from reaching a ceiling detector.
For this reason we suggest that it is best to mount your detectors on the walls at least a couple of feet below the height of the ceiling. If your detector has a digital read-out, then we recommend placing it at about eye level so you can easily read it. Or if you have some other structure, like the exposed beam in this photograph which is positioned below the ceiling level, then you can attach your carbon monoxide detectors to it instead.
Not sure how that's a -.5, as I never said put them on the ceiling. In fact, I have mine pretty much like your quoted source - eye level or slightly above (based on ceiling height).

My point was that CO is not heavier than air, and low to the ground is not where the detectors belong.

Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #61 on: April 17, 2018, 10:59:59 AM »
Not sure how that's a -.5, as I never said put them on the ceiling. In fact, I have mine pretty much like your quoted source - eye level or slightly above (based on ceiling height).

My point was that CO is not heavier than air, and low to the ground is not where the detectors belong.
Whatever.

The link you gave says that it does not make a difference but does not account for higher temperatures during an event. I did not say they should be on the floor either just lower than the ceiling. WHat I had heard about it being heavier than air was incorrect and must have been in comparison to warmer air.
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Online skyguy918

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #62 on: April 17, 2018, 11:14:57 AM »
Whatever.

The link you gave says that it does not make a difference but does not account for higher temperatures during an event. I did not say they should be on the floor either just lower than the ceiling. WHat I had heard about it being heavier than air was incorrect and must have been in comparison to warmer air.
I read it as low on the wall, but now that you mention it I could hear it that way too.

Bottom line, I can't believe this thread is even a thing. Everyone should have CO detector(s)!

Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #63 on: April 17, 2018, 11:26:30 AM »
Bottom line, I can't believe this thread is even a thing. Everyone should have CO detector(s)!
+1000000000000000.... on that! I was especially surprised that, of all people, it was started by @ExGingi !
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #64 on: April 17, 2018, 11:39:26 AM »
Quite a bit of info on this thread.

I wonder how many people buy CO detectors and install them in the wrong places. Anyone here to take a random unscientific survey of friends/neighbors/family and see where people place CO detectors?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Online TimT

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #65 on: April 17, 2018, 11:42:20 AM »
Even if it’s in the “wrong” place it’s still far better than none at all. As in potential lifesaving

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #66 on: April 17, 2018, 11:43:47 AM »
Even if it’s in the “wrong” place it’s still far better than none at all. As in potential lifesaving
A defibrillator is also potentially lifesaving. Should those be installed in every home?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #67 on: April 17, 2018, 11:55:25 AM »
Quite a bit of info on this thread.

I wonder how many people buy CO detectors and install them in the wrong places. Anyone here to take a random unscientific survey of friends/neighbors/family and see where people place CO detectors?
According to this
ETA: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21536403/
placement is not a very significant thing.
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Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #68 on: April 17, 2018, 11:56:06 AM »
A defibrillator is also potentially lifesaving. Should those be installed in every home?
Is it lifesaving when administer by an untrained individual?
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Online TimT

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #69 on: April 17, 2018, 12:00:49 PM »
A defibrillator is also potentially lifesaving. Should those be installed in every home?
If you know how to use it & there's someone there that might need it, then go right ahead.
If there’s CO in the house everybody’s going to need the detector

Offline JoeyShmoe

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #70 on: April 17, 2018, 12:15:05 PM »
Is it lifesaving when administer by an untrained individual?
IINM defibrillators nowadays are made to be used by untrained individuals, you get all the instructions you need as soon as you turn on the machine
If you know how to use it & there's someone there that might need it, then go right ahead.
If there’s CO in the house everybody’s going to need the detector
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Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #71 on: April 17, 2018, 12:23:05 PM »
IINM defibrillators nowadays are made to be used by untrained individuals, you get all the instructions you need as soon as you turn on the machine+∞
Maybe. I have no knowledge about defibrillators.
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Offline Yammer

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #72 on: April 17, 2018, 12:52:18 PM »
Is it lifesaving when administer by an untrained individual?
IINM defibrillators nowadays are made to be used by untrained individuals, you get all the instructions you need as soon as you turn on the machine+∞
+1
A defibrillator is also potentially lifesaving. Should those be installed in every home?
CM is called the silent killer for a reason, without a CAM Detector there is no warning. A heart attack/Cardiac arrest in most situations there are warning signs and can wait for a professional to show up

Offline ckmk47

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #73 on: April 17, 2018, 01:13:51 PM »
According to thisplacement is not a very significant thing.
These guys recommend 5 feet above the floor.
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #74 on: April 17, 2018, 01:48:09 PM »
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline David R

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #75 on: April 17, 2018, 01:54:40 PM »

This seems like marketing speak for a product. Even twenty years ago, it stated clearly in the manual of the CO detector we had that the alarm would sound whether it detected low levels over a long time or high levels over a short time.

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #76 on: April 17, 2018, 01:58:33 PM »
These guys recommend 5 feet above the floor.
Who are those guys and what makes them more qualified than anyone here?
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Offline smee123

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #77 on: April 17, 2018, 10:31:41 PM »
DW read to me a story she received from a friend on WhatsApp about a couple that had high levels of CO in their apartment on a Friday night, and were saved by a CO detector they weren't even aware they had. The story ends off encouraging people to install CO detectors.

I insisted that a CO detector might be necessary only in small apartments, but in our large home with lots of open space, I don't see a risk of CO poisoning (except if someone would be spending much time in the boiler room, which is the only place I can imagine CO might accumulate).

Am I wrong?
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YES

Offline Yehuda57

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #78 on: June 28, 2022, 10:21:48 AM »
I didn't read this thread, but I'm bumping to answer OP's question with a resounding YES. Last night a CO detector alarm went off in a very large house and thank G-d the occupants made it out safely with relatively minor symptoms. Without the alarm, there would have been an unspeakable tragedy.

Offline jj1000

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #79 on: June 28, 2022, 10:46:04 AM »
I didn't read this thread, but I'm bumping to answer OP's question with a resounding YES. Last night a CO detector alarm went off in a very large house and thank G-d the occupants made it out safely with relatively minor symptoms. Without the alarm, there would have been an unspeakable tragedy.
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