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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 16709 times)

Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #20 on: April 16, 2018, 05:48:18 PM »
I would definitely not want to put my family at risk. I'm just not sure that the risk is real, for some reason I get the feeling that it's more scare tactics than anything else.
How will you ensure that none of these ever happen?

« Last Edit: April 16, 2018, 05:52:41 PM by aygart »
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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #21 on: April 16, 2018, 05:52:20 PM »
I would definitely not want to put my family at risk. I'm just not sure that the risk is real, for some reason I get the feeling that it's more scare tactics than anything else.
The risk is real. Source: experience
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Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #22 on: April 16, 2018, 05:54:28 PM »
The risk is real. Source: experience
A former fire inspector in Lakewood (until 2009) told me how he lost 4 nephews and nieces to CO poisoning.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline TimT

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #23 on: April 16, 2018, 06:02:07 PM »
I would definitely not want to put my family at risk. I'm just not sure that the risk is real, for some reason I get the feeling that it's more scare tactics than anything else.
Have you not heard the horror stories ?

Offline whYME

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #24 on: April 16, 2018, 06:18:57 PM »
The risk is real. Source: experience
A former fire inspector in Lakewood (until 2009) told me how he lost 4 nephews and nieces to CO poisoning.
Have you not heard the horror stories ?

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding, but I don't think he's asking if the risk is real, rather how much if at all it's affected by the size, openness, and draftiness of the house.

Offline Dr Moose

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #25 on: April 16, 2018, 06:32:54 PM »
Youre probably wrong. Anyway, It's required by law in Lakewood NJ, and I would assume in most places
New York State as well.
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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #26 on: April 16, 2018, 06:37:03 PM »
A former fire inspector in Lakewood (until 2009) told me how he lost 4 nephews and nieces to CO poisoning.
So B"H I'm not part of that list, likely due to the detectors we had in our house
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Offline TimT

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #27 on: April 16, 2018, 06:39:57 PM »
Maybe I'm just misunderstanding, but I don't think he's asking if the risk is real, rather how much if at all it's affected by the size, openness, and draftiness of the house.
Size doesn’t matter.
Even if there’s air coming in it would probably depend on how high the numbers are. If it’s high levels a draft won’t help too much.

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #28 on: April 16, 2018, 06:41:44 PM »
A former fire inspector in Lakewood (until 2009) told me how he lost 4 nephews and nieces to CO poisoning.
Was it in anything other than an apartment (or Garage)?

It seems that whenever I hear or read a story, it's invariably an apartment, as opposed to a large house.
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 #29 on: April 16, 2018, 06:43:00 PM »
Was it in anything other than an apartment (or Garage)?

It seems that whenever I hear or read a story, it's invariably an apartment, as opposed to a large house.



So B"H I'm not part of that list, likely due to the detectors we had in our house

My impression was that it was a house. I know of cases in houses too.
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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #30 on: April 16, 2018, 06:43:58 PM »
Was it in anything other than an apartment (or Garage)?

It seems that whenever I hear or read a story, it's invariably an apartment, as opposed to a large house.
My story was in a house. It may take longer until it's concentrated enough to cause a problem, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #31 on: April 16, 2018, 06:44:54 PM »
My story was in a house
I hear you. I guess you are coming up with the answer I was looking for in my OP.

Care to share the story?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #32 on: April 16, 2018, 06:47:18 PM »
I hear you. I guess you are coming up with the answer I was looking for in my OP.

Care to share the story?
It was a few years ago. Detectors were beeping. We figured it's probably nothing, and opened some windows just in case. Detectors stopped, so we closed the windows. Then they started again after a while. I think this went on for a couple days, eventually we called someone to check it out. Turns out our oven was broken/malfunctioning, and leaking carbon dioxide (it needed to be replaced). Then we realized that a bunch of us had had headaches / fatigue for a few days already. The person said that the detectors saved our lives B"H.
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Offline aygart

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #33 on: April 16, 2018, 07:08:27 PM »
There are many ways appliances can leak CO. A clogged dryer vent or blocked chimney can do it and they are not uncommon.
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #34 on: April 16, 2018, 07:20:32 PM »
So what's the consensus?

CO detector next to the dryer and next to the furnace? Kitchen?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline TimT

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #35 on: April 16, 2018, 07:24:34 PM »
So what's the consensus?

CO detector next to the dryer and next to the furnace? Kitchen?
Bedrooms. Kitchen is good to have as well. Ultra important where people sleep

Offline yesitsme

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #36 on: April 16, 2018, 07:44:12 PM »
Co is generated from combustible energy that doesn't burn well, in order for something to burn it needs oxygen, Fuel and heat. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_triangle
When the fire is lacking any of the three it will produce unburned gases known as co, IE when there isn't enough oxygen in the house usually not the case, or the vent of the stove is covered very common pesach, dryer vent clogged common if not cleaned, missing heat would be as mentioned before, you put something cold on stove but it doesn't take long for it to warm up so it's usually not a problem.

Another solution to minimize co is have a plant in your house since that's their food and release oxygen, problem is the faster the plant grows the more co it consumes, in order for the tree to make a signifcant difference you'd nedd a plant that grows very quick it will outgrow your house very quickly.
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #37 on: April 16, 2018, 08:38:26 PM »
There are many ways appliances can leak CO. A clogged dryer vent or blocked chimney can do it and they are not uncommon.
A clogged dryer vent will result in extended drying times alerting users to the problem. Will a CO detector provide earlier detection?
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 #38 on: April 16, 2018, 08:45:28 PM »
A clogged dryer vent will result in extended drying times alerting users to the problem. Will a CO detector provide earlier detection?
If it makes CO that comes into the house. It can happen that high efficiency boilers and water heaters get their vents clogged by leaves. There are many ways appliances can malfunction to create CO
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Offline TimT

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Re: Is a Carbon Monoxide detector necessary in a large home?
« Reply #39 on: April 16, 2018, 08:47:26 PM »
A clogged dryer vent will result in extended drying times alerting users to the problem.
How so ?