What is the best alarm security system for a home?

Ulises M

I need a cheap alarm system that will get the job done

Answer
It entirely depends upon your particular environment. I recommend taking a slow walk around your home, evaluating points of entry and climbing or hiding areas. You can make your own alarm system, if you're handy enough. I don't know which of the paid alarm systems are suitable, however.

Here's an excerpt from consumer reports:

Basic Midlevel High-end
Cost: $100 to $350 for systems, plus $20 to $45 per month for monitoring. Cost: $700 to $800, plus $20 to $45 per month for monitoring. Cost: $2,000 to $3,000 or more, based on home size and number of doors and windows, plus $20 to $45 per month for monitoring.
Features: Control panel, one or two sensors for doors and windows, siren, motion detector. Wired or wireless. Features: Often adds infrared motion detectors, glass-breakage sensors, pressure mats, interactive services, a panic button. Some include smoke detectors linked to monitoring service. Wired or wireless. Features: Typically includes same features as midlevel plus smoke, carbon monoxide, flood, and heat-loss detection linked to monitoring service. Priciest combine wired and wireless technology.
Pros: Covers a burglarâs common entry points, often with cellular station contact. Pros: More doors and windows covered. Cellular primary or backup station contact may be optional ($8 to $15). Repair contract ($10 to $15). Pros: Every vulnerable entry point is covered, maximizing protection from break-ins. Cellular primary or backup station contact may be optional ($8 to $15). Repair contract ($10 to $15).
Cons: Leaves many areas unguarded. Typically requires binding monitoring contract of 1 to 5 years. After warranty, repairs charged per visit. Cons: More motion detectors increase chance of false alarms if they are inadvertently activated in vulnerable areas while youâre home. Typically requires binding monitoring contract of 1 to 5 years. Cons: Added sensors further increase chance of false alarms, requiring added care by family members and guests. Typically requires binding monitoring contract of 1 to 5 years.

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carbon monoxide?

April

the oven gives off this burnt smell while on... could it be carbon monoxide? how long after you smell it will it affect you, does it happen right away or does it take hours

Answer
You can't smell carbon monoxide. You burned something in the past and it's coming back to haunt you.

Carbon monoxide in a concentration of 1500ppm will kill you in about 5 minutes. If you have a CO detector, they go off at 100.

However, the effects of CO are cumulative. What it does is replace the oxygen in the hemoglobin. The bond is about 200 times stronger than oxygen's bond, so you can't rid your body of it without medical attention. The doctors stick people in hyperbaric chambers (pressurized with pure oxygen) and leave you in there until your oxygen level comes back up to normal levels.

I wouldn't worry about CO that much with what you're describing, but I would clean out that oven. If it's self-cleaning, that's the best. Also, you should have a CO detector in your home with a digital display. Once it gets to 35ppm, OSHA says that it's too dangerous to work there.

Carbon Monoxide Detector upstairs, i live downstairs?

Donavon

i have a gas heater i put in my room last night. im worried im gonna get carbon monoxide poisoning. we have a detector, but its all the way upstairs, and i live downstairs. if its coming from my heater in my room, wouldnt it effect me before it reached the detector upstairs?

Answer
Carbon monoxide is heavier than air. The detector should be placed near ground level on the lowest occupied floor of the house. It's good to have one per floor, but if you only have one, it should be at the lowest occupied level because that is where the highest concentrations of gas will pool -- and you want the earliest warning possible. It should be near the floor for the same reason. If the heater is in your room, the detector should be in the room or the adjacent hallway. There are combination smoke/CO detectors but smoke detectors need to be near the ceiling and CO detectors need to be near the floor. Combination detectors are most appropriate for staircase landings, etc. in between floors of larger houses.
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Time to change my Carbon Monoxide Detector?

Guy Robert

I've had the same CO detector in my home for many years now, perhaps more than 7 years. The lights work (both POWER and CAUTION) and every time I press the TEST button it lets out the loud beep that it should when CO is in the air. My concern, however, is whether or not the detector is still as functional as it was when it was purchased.
Granted, I've been using the same smoke detector for 20 years and it seems to work A-OK, but are CO detectors any different?

Answer
There is a certain life expectancy in smoke and CO detectors. I read in a technical bulletin they last about 7 years. Reason is, sensitivity parameters change through the years. Put your mind at ease and install new units, also change batteries when we set our clocks ahead and back. (Easy to remember)

Carbon Monoxide Detector went crazy this morning?

Mynameis

I have a new Kidde NightHawke Carbon Monoxide detector. We got it about a month ago and it has worked just fine. I live in Ohio and we are in the midst of a winter storm so we have had 5-7 inches of snow and the temp is around 5 right now. This morning as I was leaving I glanced at the CM detector as I always do and it was rising from 30 to 33 to 36. Now normally it sits at zero. I woke my husband and let him know as I left and called our furnace tech. It never went higher than 36 and eventually went back down to 0. We have gas heat, water tank is gas. Nothing else is gas in the house. We were running an a small electrical heater in the laundry room to keep the pipes from freezing, could that have caused this? What else would cause this?
The reason this concerns me so much is we have a 19 month old.

Answer
That is Dangerous.

I would keep an eye on it. If the detector is near a furnace vent I would check the detector when the furnace first comes on. Sometimes with a cracked heat exchanger it will build up some CO when heating before the blower fan comes on. That will give a rise on the reading at the start and then it goes back down as the air mixes in the house.

If you get more readings on the detector, you definitely need the furnace and water heater checked.

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Installation for CO2 detector. Floor or ceiling?

Sheltie Lo

We need to install a CO2 detector. We have the unit, but no instructions.

Should it be installed closer to the ceiling or closer to the floor?

And why?


.

Answer
Closer to the ceiling, and if only one, then place it near the sleeping area.

Here is a link -
http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/placement.htm

Ideally, you want one on each level of the home. And, they need to be replaced every few years, because the sensors in them deteriorate. If this is a 'used' unit, I wouldn't trust my life to it, without knowing it was working, and no more than a year old.

You should be able to look up the brand/model for complete specs.

As to 'why' the placement near the ceiling - Carbon Monoxide weighs about the same as normal air. That means it does not settle to the floor, like some gases do. The gas is produced from any kind of fuel that produces an open flame...kerosene, propane, etc. Open flames usually mean heating devices - which in turn mean the CO is being produced with hot air, as the exhaust of the flame - hot air rises. So I would suggest placing the detector about as high as you can comfortably reach, on the wall, near your bedroom(s). When you get more detectors (and I would), then place them near any possible source of CO - like a 'furnace closet', gas heater, etc.

Good Luck

Home evaluation for department of family and children services?

luckyarbor

I have a set of twin cousins in a foster home right now and I am trying to have them placed in my home so they are coming out to do a home evaluation tomorrow what are they looking for so I can pass this and get them in my home?

Answer
I actually do "homestudies" for the state of Utah. Everything needs to be safe for the child. My agency requires the child to have their own bedroom, but if they are siblings, then they can share. Own beds, that are sturdy (not air mattresses).

Windows need to have screens. There must be two exits in case of fire on each level (windows count). Fridge, stove, microwave, etc...needs to be working. There needs to be smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on each level. We require fire a extinguisher. Emergency numbers posted by the phone. 3 steps or more require a banister. Bathrooms must be in working order. Heater must be able to maintain temperature of at least 68 degrees.

Furnace must have cleared space of 6 ft around it. (Or be in its own closet). Medications, firearms, and hazardous materials must be locked. Garbage must be sanitary. Those are the ones I can think of for the actual homestudy. If they don't have any of these things that can be easily fixed, we just let them know what they need to do, and we come back for a follow up visit and most likely we can approve their home.

We also do an intensive interview process to ask them about their marriage, (how they handle issues) extended family(support system), and kids. We also ask the kids in the home some questions about having foster siblings. We also talk to them about their lifestyle, activities, typical day, or week. The questions take about an hour or so, and we have foster kids with disabilities so it's a little more intense.

That is awesome that you are willing to take in your cousins. I wish I had more relatives willing to take in their family. That's so important, and kudos for doing that. I'm sure that because you are related, they will help you in any possible way to make it a successful placement.

I hope this helped you, best of luck!!!

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Do I need a carbon monoxide detector?

barefootba

All of my utilities are electric. Do I still need to have a carbon monoxide detector in my home?

Answer
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Internal combustion engine such as portable generator and cars also produce CO.
If you donât have an attached garage the answer would be noâ¦.. with this caveat â¦.If you run a generator at times close to the house during power outages â¦..I would recommend it

Are Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors the same thing?

Chris(f)

there has been a lot of deaths in my city cause people got carbon monoxide poisoning so all over the news they're like "go out and buy a carbon monoxide detector!" so I went to my Wal Mart and I didn't find any. I found a bunch of smoke detectors but I already have 1 installed in my home, and then it dawned on me...maybe it's the same thing! Well is it?
if they're not the same thing, where can I buy one?
I checked Wal Mart, Target, Home Depot and some hardware shops

Answer
No Carbon monoxide detectors are not usually combined with smoke detectors also the placement of carbon monoxide detectors are crucial you. Usually you can find the kind that plugs into a outlet and you want it near a supply vent.

You can also usually go to the local fire dept and inquire about carbon monoxide detectors. Around here they usually give them out free.

We offer free carbon monoxide detectors with every furnace install. Also it is something I suggest for every furnace PM I do the cost is about $25.00 to $40.00 depending on the one the customer wants.

Check Johnstone or another HVAC supply house if you cant find one at Wal Mart, Home Depot, or Lowes.

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How can my High School class raise money?

curlyshan4

We are Juniors and need good fundraising ideas. Help!

Answer
car wash, bake sales
paint house numbers on curbs with reflective paint
flower sale
class play or talent nights, have spring and fall
battle of the local bands... let local bands come jam, charge admission and concessions, get local places to give prizes
raffles at sport events.
Have a games night, set up games tables invite lower grades and parents to come for games night charge a small cover or ask for donations and sell refreshments.
sell safety kits this fall, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors.
Our high school used to have movie night in the auditorium with older movies, it was so popular they did 2 showings a night.

does anybody knows what is 'msa gas'?

Jimlberto

http://www.multigasdetection.com/?gclid=CK6NrardpJYCFQECGgodpEta5g

in this link, I was reading the last paragraph and collided with this :
"Some of the Gases Detected by some of the above detectors include
Ammonia gas , Carbon Dioxide , Carbon Monoxide , Chlorine Dioxide , Chlorine , Combustible gas detection, Fluoride , Fluorine Hydrogen , Hydrogen Chloride , Hydrogen Cyanide , Methane , Nitrogen Dioxide , Oxygen detetector, Phosphine , Sulfur Dioxide , carbon monoxide, helium, hydrocarbon, hydrogen gas , methane , msa gas ,monoxide, propane , radon gas. "

there it says. ", msa gas,"

I've searched 'msa gas' and only found a company that makes masks and detectors, but nothing about a "msa gas"

does it ring any bell to somebody?
oops, i put 'knows', It should have been 'know', sorry
ah, ok, I supposed that, somehow, but 'surely' , I was not sure, he he

thanks for your time folks

Answer
It is likely that this vendor doesn't have a chemist on staff reviewing what the sales department puts on the website -- it becomes really obvious when I see things like "fluorine hydrogen", and carbon monoxide three times.

In all likelihood, the folks in the RKI sales office are using the term "msa gas" to describe Mine Safety Appliances' Calibration gas for multi-gas detectors.

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is it mandatory to have a carbon monoxide detector in a warehouse?

BLOODHOUND

My boyfriend works in a warehouse in Buffalo, NY.
His father works for National Fuel and he came into the warehouse because Joe (boyfriend) kept getting head aches.. getting dizzy and migraines.
He said that the entire warehouse was measuring at at least 75 ppm
Then he told us that when it is even 35 ppm you should get a blood test if you have been feeling symptoms.

So Joe bought a Carbon Monoxide Detecter and put it in the warehouse .. and it keeps going off non-stop.. and his boss yells at him to take it down.

Here in NY.. i know that when you buy a house.. or rent a home.. the home HAS TO HAVE a carbon monoxide detector.
What about warehouses?

Joe is going to get bloodwork done this week..
His boss is being a real jerk about it.. calling him weak.. because he goes through so much aspirin from head aches and stuff.
Should he take legal action if his boss does nothing about the Carbon Monoxide?

Any advice would really help.. thank you so much.

Answer
yes he is creating a unsafe work environment

Are gas detectors mandatory?

Scott

I just moved into a new house and was wondering if gas (from a stove) detectors are mandatory, for a landlord to put in the house. I haven't asked him yet but will soon. The reason I ask is cause 3 months ago, friends of the family died because of it. Apparantly Grandma forget to turn off the stove and the house blew off killing 4 people instantly. Shouldn't there have been some sort of device the beeps of warns if it detects gas? Got me concerned hope u guys can help. Thanks.
Yea, I feel the same way but what I should of said and meant to, if its mandatory by law
I feel the same way but what I meant if its mandatory by law.

Answer
No, it's not mandatory or even necessary. Unlike carbon monoxide, fuel gas has an odor. In fact, the only place you can get a gas sniffer is from a trades supplier. They make hand held models for service technicians and models for commercial buildings. I don't believe there is a model for residential applications. If you smell gas, you call 911. If you go away for an extended amount of time, turn the gas off,

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Is it possible to detect CO without a household carbon monoxide detector, with products found around the house

David La P

Well that's 1 bad answer...

Answer
Not for the amounts which could cause you serious harm. Other than having a canary (or any small bird) who live within the space where leaks could occur, you have no natural resource for detection.

In the old days, minors would use caged birds to detect gasses which could harm them. If the bird falls over or dies, they would run!

Detectors are cheapest on eBay but you can find them in any hardware store. While you are buying, get a smoke detector and a radon detector as well, you will be glad you did.

do carbon monoxide alarms work well?

.

I was wondering whether carbon monoxide alarms work well? I'm looking for a decent one to install in my lounge, to monitor the gas fire we have.

Would one like this be ok?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KIDDE-HOME-SAFETY-PACK-SMOKE-AND-CARBON-MONOXIDE-ALARMS-/110646529101?pt=UK_Safety_Alarms&hash=item19c30c0c4d#ht_1785wt_754

Answer
They do work and you should have them in your home. Keep in mind that the sensor life is 3-5 years. Also note that co alarms only go off when co levels become dangerous. Long term exposure to low levels of co can be bad for your health. Having a working co detector doesn't guarantee safety. Have gas fired appliances and fireplaces checked regularly.

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How does a Carbon monoxide alarm work?

carbon monoxide detector does detect natural gas image

raver82

I never heard of a Carbon monoxide alarm before until my sister came home with one yesterday. I was just wondering how it works? if Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and whatever else how can you get it in a house what does it come from? I'm clueless about it. I spent most of science class in school asleep.

Answer
Hello raver82:

CO is deadlier than natural gas; because it is odorless/colorless, people don't realize that it is present. It will cause death with as little as 30ppm within 30 minutes. CO is extremely hazardous to infants, the elderly and people with breathing disorders or who have difficulty breathing.

The detectors must be powered at all times in order to work properly. The mechanism is able to capture the CO molecules and if a high concentration (over 15 ppm) are detected, it will sound an alarm.

Symptoms of CO poisoning are grogginess, headache, fatigue, sleepiness, irritation of the nasal passages and lungs, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. Some complain of experiencing the same effects of alcohol.

A CO detector is as important as the smoke detector. CO is a result of inefficient combustion of hydrocarbons; the largest source in a home is the family car(or truck). If you have a natural gas appliance (furnace, water heater or stove), it is a wise investment to have the CO detector. After the car, the other main source of CO is the gas stove. If you have a gas stove, it is critical that you have an exhaust hood or vent for the stove that exits outside the home.

If you have a gas and carbon monoxide detector in your house, is the normal readout suppose to stay at zero ?

Hillbilly

After testing and plugging in this unit for my house, the readout seems to stay on zero all the time.
Is this detector working properly ?

Answer
It really depends what the sensitivity of your carbon monoxide detector is.

The natural levels are around 0.1 ppmv

The level of CO in your home could range from between 0.5 to 5.0 ppmv.

Many carbon monoxide detectors will usually sound if a level of over 10 ppmv is detected.

I'd advise you to contact the manufacturer to ask them if it is a normal reading.

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Why does my carbon monoxide alarm keep going off?

carbon monoxide detector gas stove image

LoveuEndle

Everytime my mother cooks using the stove, the carbon monoxide detector goes off. It seems like every sunday when she cooks for a long period of time faithfully the detector goes off like an hour after the stove has been shut off. I take it down remove the battery and open the windows. about 20 minutes later i put it back up....no alarm goes off. the battery is new so that shouldnt be an issue. The only thing i am fearing is a possible gas leak. What should i do?

Answer
It could be a couple of things.
How old is the detector? They have a sensor that only lasts so long and they should be replaced every 5 years.
If your mother is cooking with gas is there an exhaust fan that removes the air to the outside of the house? If not it could be caused by the recirculation of the combustion air back into the flames.
A good flame should also be a light blue, if it is a lazy yellow flame then there isn't enough primary air (air that is mixed with the gas before combustion) if that is the case then you should ask someone who knows how to adjust it and they should also check for soot which may be evidence of flame impingement.
Gas, like electricity, it is safe if done properly but can be very dangerous if done wrong and Carbon monoxide is very dangerous and any warnings should not be ignored.

what could this weird gas smell from my gas stove?

Bird N

the gas company came out and they guy had his detector or whatever. He said that it might be carbon monoxide and it might be incomplete combustion from one of the pilot lights and that they may need adjustment and that it wasn't a natural gas leak. I only smell it when I stand in front of the gas stove. He also recommended I open a door or window when I have the stove or oven on. He also pointed out the debris flakes under the stove cover as fuel debris or whatever. I put a carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen for about an hour and it didn't go off. What should I do? Call an appliance repair company? will it be expensive? Thanks!

Answer
I doubt that it would take a repair person very long, a service call, probably in the $45-$75 area depending on your location, plus time and materials, say another 1/2 hour. I'm guessing $100 total. You might well try this yourself. Go to a store that sells welders and welding supplies and ask for a "welding tip cleaner". It will be in the $5-7 range and is a small aluminum case with a series of round wires in various diameters, which are actually files. They are used to clean gas welding tips which have various sizes of orifices. Shut off the gas valve behind the stove, and use the tip cleaner to clean the pilot light orifices. The small files are flexible and will bend and you can increase to larger sizes until you feel metal to metal contact. Then, turn the gas back on and relight your pilots. If there is no improvement, you aren't out much, and the tip cleaner can come in handy. They are great for cleaning the windshield washer nozzles on your car. Good luck.

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Carbon monoxide alarm went off?

carbon monoxide alarm 3 beeps image

musicGirl

So i live in an apartment and our carbon monxide alarm went off. It was loud beep 3 times every few seconds. i freaked out and opened all the windows and press the reset button. So far, my dad and I feel fine, we dont feel dizzy or anything. but im worried, should I call 911 if it starts beeping again?

I think i know where the carbon monoxide is coming from. but im not sure. I have this old air purifier that blows air. and I use it as a fan. whenever i turn it on, it has the word "Carbon" light up. and i dont know what that means. and the air coming from it always smelled funny. could this be what caused the alarm to go off? i stopped using it right away. im just worried now if we're gonna get poisoning

Answer
You can only get CO from something that's burning, so unless your air purifier burns something, it's not the source. Call the fire department and have them come over and check things out if it happens again. There may be a leak in your heating system, or some car exhaust may be getting into your apartment, or something like that.

is there carbon monoxide in my house?

King Cash

I recently tested my dual "kiddie" carbon monoxide / smoke alarm and after the test I got 3 more beeps informing me of carbon monoxide 3 seconds after the fire and CO test beeps. So I tested it again and I got the same 3 carbon monoxide beeps 3 seconds after the test and then nothing but the green "hush" mode light.. I wanted to know if this means there is carbon monoxide in my house? This only occurs when I hold the dual alarm in the air around my indoor gas air heater/cooler thing-when it's running.- Should I be worried because I never get carbon monoxide warnings otherwise. Why am I getting three additional beeps and a warning for carbon monoxide after the initial test beeps....

Answer
Carbon monoxide is heavier than air,and will normally be raised by the heat of an appliance and then fall,which would set off any detector.If the alarm is not activating on its own,then there shouldn't be a problem.

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Is California's highest in the nation unemployment related to its highest in the nation taxburden?

carbon monoxide detectors california image

Tesla V

@Eric, I am not saying it is the rich. It is the high taxes killing jobs in California.

Answer
The unemployment rate is tied to the business climate-taxes are only part of that.

Another part is the amount of crap you have to go through to get anything done in this state. It always seems to require 42 state agencies, any one of which can say no for any reason (or for no reason).

Here's one example--I basically can no longer use my fireplace because of "bad air quality". By any actual measure, the air quality is better than it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago, but they've redefined "bad air quality" so that many more days fall into that category.

And because I have a fireplace (which I'm not allowed to use), I'm legally required to have a carbon monoxide detector in my home, in case the fire that I'm not allowed to burn causes a carbon monoxide build up. The most recent data I ran across in a short search is from 1979-1988 (when you could use your fireplace basically every day if you wanted), where it showed that non-vehicle carbon monoxide inhalation caused 270 deaths. Not per year--for the entire decade.

Nearly 1/4 of those occured in cabins or tents (where people might do something like run a kerosene heater or stove to keep warm, and didn't properly vent it). So because an average of 21 people per year died in houses from carbon monoxide (that's .00009% of the state population at the time), I'm legally required to install and test a carbon monoxide detector-in fact, I could not legally sell the house without one, and I couldn't have any sort of construction done (even something like an electric water heater our in the garage). I'm not saying it's a bad idea to have one, but to legally require it!? That's just asinine.

how to become a daycare in home?

Kourtney E

i am located in southern california, los angeles county...
wondering what the steps are to run a daycare at home? and if there are any educational requirements? and or what would be the BEST way to do this and secure business?

Answer
I'm not in your state, but I am a licensed home daycare provider. What I had to do is contact the department of human & children services. They sent me a packet about what I had to do in order to become licensed, if I was still interested, I would (& did) send them back a form stating so. Then they sent me the entire application. When you apply to become licensed, there's a lot of paperwork & it's time consuming. It took around 3 months for everything to be done & go through. Everyone in the house has to get a physical & TB test, the house must be child proofed & be up to certain standards, such as fire & carbon monoxide detectors installed. All adults in the house must pass a background check & get fingerprinted. You have to turn in 3 references. You must have graduated high school, you'll have to get certified in CPR/First Aid, & you must attend 15hrs of child care training per year. The department of human services will inspect your home before giving you a license, if changes need to be made, you will have a certain time frame to get that done. Then they will do drop in visits 2-4 times per year. This is a secure business, but your income varies greatly from time to time. How much you make all depends on how many kids your watching, if they're full or part time, & so on. When you become licensed you are only allowed a certain number of kids in certain age groups, so there is a limit. If you have kids of your own, they will take up one of them spots - doesn't matter if they're in school during the day or not, your kids count. Most home daycares are allowed up to 8 kids, since I have 3 kids of my own (even though 1 is in school full time), that means I'm only allowed to have 5 kids. The hardest part of being a daycare provider is the parents. Make sure you have a contract & that you & the parents sign it, so that there is a clear understanding of what you charge, when it's due, vacation/holiday/sick policy, etc.

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how many people have carbon monoxide detectors intheir homes??

carbon monoxide detectors expire image

sowmyachep

Answer
It appears that the question period has expired. If you have received an answer that meets your needs, please choose a 'best answer.'
Regards.

Grace period for expired driver licence?

Gal2k2

Answer
The "grace period" for an expired driver's license is ... ZERO days! In most states they expire on your birthday. So ... every year, just before your birthday check your license expiration date ... while you are at it take care of some other tasks that need to be done very infrequently ... like change the batteries in your smoke detectors and check your radon and carbon monoxide detectors.

Seriously, the expiration date on your license is the LAST day you can legally drive without renewing your privilege.

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What are the physical effects of carbon monoxide poisoning before death?

carbon monoxide detectors malfunctioning image

confused i

After the body was removed from the vehicle there was blood present in & on the side of the vehicle, and drops of blood on the ground. Why would blood be present from carbon monoxide poisoning? Also, by running a hose from the tailpipe through the window of the vehicle and sealing the window, how long would it take for death?
Would the person be able to turn the key off but not able to open the door? The vehicle was turned off but the doors were locked when the person was found. Could they have decided not to go thru with it, had the mobility to turn off the car and not had enough mobility to open the door?
This was an apparent suicide but there wasn't a note found and I have alot of questions. The presence of blood, the key turned off, the doors locked?......all of these things really puzzle me.

Answer
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

THE FACTS

As colorless as the air, this sudden killer is responsible for 700 fatalities a year in the United States. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is not to be confused with Carbon Dioxide (CO2), which is responsible for the bubbles in your gingerale. CO is a product of inefficiently burnt fuels that are created by an appliance or heating unit in the home. One in five deaths by CO poisoning can be attributed to a malfunctioning appliance, either due to poor maintenance or a design fault. Carbon Monoxide is the inevitable by-product of the burning of all carbon based fuels, and the less of it that is in the air, the better.

CO is deadly because it is not detectable to the five human senses. To confuse matters more, symptoms of CO poisoning mimic common every day ailments such as migraine headaches or the flu. This insidious threat to home safety is responsible for 113,333 emergency situations in the U.S. every year. There are two basic types of carbon monoxide poisoning, ACUTE and CHRONIC.

SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS

ACUTE CO poisoning is rarely detected until its victims become quite ill. In this kind of scenario, a heating unit or appliance breaks down and emits lethal levels of gas in a short time. The severity of the symptoms varies depending on the concentration of the gas in the air. The chart below gives you an idea of when to suspect that CO is the culprit behind your discomfort.

The numbers below represent the concentration or amount of CO that is in the air as per parts per million (ppm) followed by its physical effects:

* At 35 ppm - No adverse effects until after about 8 hours of exposure
* At 200 ppm - Mild headache after 2-3 hours of exposure
* At 800 ppm - Headache, nausea and dizziness at 45 minutes. Physical collapse at 2 hours.
* At 1000 ppm - Loss of consciousness at 1 hour.
* At 3200 ppm - Dizziness and nausea at10 minutes. Loss of consciousness occurs at 30 minutes.
* 12,800 ppm - Collapse, loss of consciousness and death after 1-3 minutes of exposure.

CHRONIC CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms of long-term exposure mimic common disorder such as the flu. Long-term exposure to smaller amounts of CO has been associated with diabetes and brain damage. There is a middle range of slightly higher exposure over a shorter period of time. In this scenario, a gas heater breaks down and an entire family can suffer nausea and dizziness over a period of two weeks indicating that it might be from CO leak.

Persistent symptoms of CO poisoning include

* Fatigue
* Dizziness
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Confusion
* Convulsions
* Respiratory problems
* Rapid breathing
* Persistent cough
* Concentration problems
* Hallucinations
* Panic attacks
* Clumsiness
* Severe muscle pains
* Trembling
* Vision problems


CAN IT BE PREVENTED?

CO takes its victims by surprise so poisoning is as hard to predict as any act of fate. However, there are measures you can take to immediately allay the severity of the situation.


* First and foremost, outfit your home and garage with a CO detector. Human beings are unable to smell CO so these devices act as a second nose. These devices resemble a fire alarm and sound off at the first subtle whiff of gas.
* Have a qualified professional regularly check your heating systems, chimneys, furnaces, stoves and cookers for flaws, leaks, efficiency and structural weaknesses.
* Be mindful and observant. For example, if you suspect your furnace is not working, don't use it until it is fixed.
* Be a savvy consumer. Before purchasing a major appliance, check with the manufacturer or a consumer safety groups to see if the brand has a good reputation.

PREPARATION

Carbon monoxide poisoning is accidental, and you should prepare for it just as you would any other catastrophe that might strike without warning. As is the case with fires, it is a good idea to make sure that all doors windows and exits are kept free of obstacles. Keeping a window open, while using appliances such as tabletop gas cookers is also a good idea.

WHAT TO DO IF THE UNFORTUNATE OCCURS

If at any time you feel you have been exposed to dangerous carbon monoxide fumes you should remove yourself from the area immediately and seek medical assistance. In this case, it is also advisable to open doors and break windows to let fresh air in and speed evacuation.

Emergency treatment for acute CO poisoning almost always includes keeping the victim warm as well as dosing them with supplemental oxygen via a mask.

What should I do if my smoke detector randomly goes off?

lkbwildcat

Last night at 1:00 am my smoke detector went off randomly for the first time ever. I had to tear it off from the ceiling to turn it off. There was no smoke so could it have detected carbon monoxide? Or was it just a malfunction because it is more than 10 years old?

Answer
when it does that it means you have to replace the battery

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At what temperature must my landlord turn on the heat?

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cincywahin

I live in an apartment complex...it is 42 degrees F outside and still no heat.

Is there a temperature that they legally have to turn the heat on?

My apartment manager is a...well not a very good one...asking her is like well asking my wall.

Answer
I live in the USA. During the day it cannot be lower than 65 degrees, and at night no lower than 63 degrees. If there is no change immediately, call the city or village for help. Also, after January 1st 2007, a carbon monoxide detector MUST be installed in all residential housing. Detectors must be within 15 feet of all areas designed for sleeping. This is the landlords responsibility to buy and install, and the tenants must be shown how to test the unit and replace batteries. After that, it is up to the tenant to maintain the unit. If the unit at some point in the future does not function, then the landlord must replace it.

Question about carbon monoxide detector ?

GAB X P

In California, it is the law to install carbon monoxide detectors in addition to smoke detectors in a rental single family unit.
Do I have to replace the smoke detectors I have hard-wired and battery back-up with the new kind which is a combination of smoke-and-carbon monoxide ? Or, can I leave the smoke detectors there and just install the battery operated carbon monoxide ? The big reason is that I saw the new kind--combination carbon monoxide--and--smoke detectors at Home Depot, and they are $ 55.00 each. They are very expensive, therefore,can I just put the cheap kind battery operated ? Thanks

Answer
You are still required to have regular smoke detector, the carbon detector is not a replacement for the regular fire and smoke detectors whichever may apply Commercial properties are required to have all 3 vs residential properties are only smoke, and now carbon detector.

And its really not because you have a risk of carbon poisoning , unless its due to your own negligence
Like bringing your grill indoors to keep warm.Apparently in this day and age no one has learned history
of others doing stupid things and "Hey y''all" watch this was born. So because 9 people across multi states didn't have enough common sense {Its no longer taught" The federal Government made it a law which means every home in the USA rental,commercial, or otherwise, is now required to also have a carbon detector. Just so the few get a little device that says carbon detector on its case is beeping.And they can take their tiny little brain and say that was stupid and run outside call the fire department because they are ignorant . Hence the reason why your now required to have both.

And a whole bunch of new companies and even some that make regular detectors are making billions of tax free dollars on everyone else that have common sense but that's the whole gospel truth of the matter


So do not dis connect the regular fire system you have, add the carbon detector to the current system, that is the new federal rules for everyone one including home owners which are the ones that spurred the creation of the law

hope that helps
Lr

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What is this loud beep in the house?Fire Alarm?

carbon monoxide detector beeps every 6 minutes image

OWL

Every about five minutes a loud quick beep hurt my ears,I think I once heard that it might be the fire alarms low on battery can it be this? I heard it in many other houses too.like my Grampa's House and friend's houses.What can this be?It's driving me NUTS!

Answer
READ EVERY WORD FIRST, ALL OF THEM, PLEASE!!!!
Well that's an easy one, I am assuming you are young since you reference Grandpa. Note the beep has to be from something electronic Possible sources: Burglar Alarm company backup battery to the main system is weak, the remotely located wireless window/door sensors have batteries that when dead make the Alarm console beep.

A smoke detector is likely. I have some that mount directly to the wall and some to a bracket that is mounted and you turn the "front" of the detector CCW or CW to remove from the bracket. You need to know if the smoke/fire alarm is a battery unit (CLUE: IF YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF WHERE ITS MOUNTED AND IF IT HAS NO WIRE INTO THE WALL/CEILING ITS BATTERY, NOW TURN IT OVER TO THE "WALL SIDE", MAYBE THERE IS A VISIBLE 9V BATTERY COMPARMENT SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU), if not it might be a open the cover unit, so, open the cover by looking, AND THEN LOOKING AGAIN, you might have to pry a "tab" or unscrew a screw before opening, when you see the 9v battery you will be half done, (if YOU DON'T ABSOLUTELY KNOW WHAT A 9V BATTERY LOOKS LIKE STOP SEE TEST BUTTON BELOW). PLEASE don't mess with the "120" volt smoke detector, call the company if it's the "beeper" [all non battery smoke detectors may not be "120" volt but they may be 12-24 volt AC or DC so they still might be dangerous] (I say that more for those who might nitpick me).

If it really beeps every five minutes it wont hurt to pull the 9volt battery and wait 7 minutes. TEST SECTION: If you can't wait, be brave, re-read above and extract the battery, put the 9v battery to your tongue, if it mildly tingles it's a dead battery, if it smarts put it back in and wait the "5" minutes. NOTE YOU CAN'T DIE FROM THIS EXCEPT MAYBE IF YOU HAVE A PACEMAKER OR BUILT-IN HEART DEFIBRILLATOR SO THOSE FOLKS DON'T "TONGUE" IT.

Or best of all, get a volt meter from an electronics pal. 9 volts minus 1.8=7.2 volts = battery no good (if the battery is low by 20% its dead, this even applies with 6 volt, 1.5volt etc.( -20% is my guide for alkaline batteries),

Also if you are afraid just press the TEST BUTTON, on the smoke detector, if it has one, buy a new one if it doesn't have a test button, its too old or the owner was too frugal. [IF IT WONT SOUND OFF UNDER TEST ITS DEAD, IF IT DOES SOUND THEN YOU CAN NOW KNOW IF ITS "YOUR BEEP"] Now identify if its a 9v battery by taking it gently off its mount or bracket mount also see above again. See the test section if you feel braver.

If you succeed in removal AND REPLACE THE 9V note that I put all my detectors on a wall AS CLOSE to the ceiling on a 3-4 inch bread twist tie or better "wire" to a screw or thumb tack [ yes it looks fine if you do it right] for easy removal of batteries and no loss of sensitivity. Generally smoke rises driven by the heat, so the closer to the ceiling the better.
(this wire mount idea is at your discretion, I'm sure some fire guy is gonna disagree but in my experience of an actual house fire in 1987 with the detectors mounted as such, they saved my sleeping wife and cat!)

Check for a carbon monoxide detector and again make sure its not "120" volt, press the test button. A UPS on your computer with a near dead battery makes beeps. A medical device for "Gramps" may be at fault. a cell phone or cordless home phone beeps when near dead. A microwave or new fridge with the door open can beep. An AC alarm clock can beep when its 9volt battery gets weak.. Get the common thread?

If after all that you can't isolate it, invite some other young folks over for sodas, [statistically better at hearing high pitched beeps] put the battery back in the smoke detector and have the young'uns stand at different parts around the seeming sound area to pinpoint the beep. Keep in mind that some beeps are so foxy that they are like a ventriloquist and "throw their voices" so move around like musical chairs till every one agrees. Need I say more?? Good Luck! WHEW

Fire alarm won't stop beeping! Driving me insane!?

Shadow

There's about 6 fire alarms in my grandparents house. One went off then all the others went off. Constant beeping for 30min and very annoying. Finally it all stopped, so I changed the battery in the first one that went off. Still, it continues to beep every minute now. I flipped the battery figuring it was in backwards but that didn't work either. I pushed the test button it has and that didnt work either. It's late at night and I need some sleep but I can't sleep with this constant beeping. Any advice would be very helpful.

Answer
other than smoke....
Is it also a carbon monoxide/natural gas /other detector? It could be warning you. Id sleep with the window open.

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How go get my boss to take Health & Safety seriously?

osha carbon monoxide detector image

Boo84

I work in a garage and my office is very close to the vehicle workshop. Sometimes when the engines have been running in the workshop for a while the exhaust fumes enter my office area. The smell is terrible and I have no protection. The mechanics have extractor fans but fail to use them. I have asked them why they don't use them but they just use excuses like they don't work. I raised the issue with my boss and he basically laughed in my face. How can I get him to take my concerns seriously? Even if I report the company, how do I gather evidence to prove the company was negligent?

Answer
Actually it takes 1-2 hours to accumulate the Amount of CO (Carbon monoxide) that it takes to be lethal in a 36,000 cubic foot room/garage without any or little ventilation. So if the Bay/car doors of the garage are open for ventilation then the amount of CO that accumulates in your office is very low and is only lethal or dangerous to your health if the cars are running at idle for approximately 24-26 hours and if you are sitting or close to the floor about 30-60 cm (1-2 ft.) from the floor Due to the CO being denser than the air (Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon mixture of the atmosphere). The human body needs to be exposed to a CO enriched room for 2-5 minutes for a lethal dose of CO or 30 seconds to 1.75 minutes for dangerous carboxylhemoglobulin levels. So your choice would be report to OSHA, EPA, or HR about the problem but if there is not enough CO accumulation in your office then there isn't anything that OSHA, EPA, or HR can do if you want to you can go to your local Hardware store and by a CO alarm and place it in your office they go off if there is a high or dangerous CO level one thing to also look at is if the fire alarm system in the shop is active and fairly new then that would be set off by an integrated CO detector.

my carbon monoxide detector reads 2ppm in my wearhouse when my forklift trucks are running is this safe?

CHARLES

Answer
If it truly is only 2 ppm then you are within the limits of OSHA which has established a 50 PPM limit for the workplace.... But be careful of the testing device you are using. Some devices use a different unit of measure. The safest concentration is zero.
Some detection devices only measure concentrations of 1,000 parts per million and higher, significantly above safe levels. Testing equipment should be capable of sensing levels as low as one part per million. For example, Underwriters Laboratories' standard for residential carbon monoxide detectors requires detectors to alarm before 90 minutes of exposure to 100 parts per million of carbon monoxide.

If initial readings don't reveal sufficient concentrations of carbon monoxide to set off the alarm, digital measurement testing equipment that produces a printed 24-hour record can be used to help identify the source.

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Is it normal for a carbon monoxide detector to read 0 ppm?

carbon monoxide detector reads 0 image

dfjkdfj

I got a carbon monoxide detector, which reads 0 ppm. It has a feature that allows you to check the highest level within the past 24 hours, which also is 0 ppm. Is this normal? I thought there might be one or two ppm in the house.

Answer
It can read it. But f you want to know if it is working then it will either need to be calibrated by a professional (cheaper to buy a new one), or quick gut check take it to the hood of an 80% gas HW heater. It should give you some reading and I usually see above 9 when around a water heater.

Is it normal for a carbon monoxide detector to read 0 ppm?

dfjkdfj

Sorry for posting a second time, but the first question did not get any good answers. Is it normal for a carbon monoxide detector to read 0 PPM? I have one that shows the highest level over the past 24 hours, and whenever I check it always reads 0 PPM. Is this normal? I would think there might be one or two PPM in the house, considering the lowest level it would bother sensitive people is 30 PPM.

Answer
Actually in the 0 to 29 ppm level CO detectors are not allowed to display the actual CO level, and are required to display zero in that range according to CO alarm standards developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL2034) in collaboration with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. (The display and alarm specifications of UL2034 are matched in a Canadian standard, CSA 6.19-01)

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How do sensors work? I need slightly technical information?

carbon monoxide detector values image

nandiana20

I'm doing this paper on wireless monitoring and I really need to know how sensors basically work and more specifically how temperature ,pressure ,light,radiation, force and toxic gas sensors work. I'm not an electronics student. So an extremely simple explanation would be helpful.

Answer
It is a HUGE field, so you will have to do some web searching. Manufacturers pages are usually good places to find explanatory info.

Temperature:
Thermocouple - makes use of the fact that a junction of 2 different metals produces a voltage difference which varies with temperature.
Thermistor - a resistor whose value changes with temperature. There are 2 types, PTC and NTC, positive / negative temperature coefficient.

Pressure:
Typically you have a silicon membrane with a force sensor (strain gauge) on it. Pressure on one side of the membrane causes it to distort, which causes a change in resistance in the sensor.

Light:
Photodiode - a diode that leaks current according to how much light falls on it.
Light-dependant resistor (LDR) - does what it says!

Radiation:
Ionisation type detectors - basically a gas-filled tube. When a radiation particle strikes a gas atom it creates an ion, or charged atom. An electric field attracts the ion to a plate, where it is detected as a pulse of current.
Scintillation detector - use a crystal that produces a flash of light when struck by a particle. The flas is detected by a light sensor.

Force:
Strain gauge - a thin film of resistive material. Resistance changes when it is flexed.
Force sensing resistor (FSR) - resistance changes when squeezed
Piezoelectric bimorph - produces a voltage when flexed

Toxic gas:
Carbon monoxide detectors...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_detector

What would be a good intruder alarm system (sans video) VALUE FOR MONEY wise?

i know there are motion detectors, glass break sensors, door/window sensors and video. i know too that there are auto dial systems. heat and carbon monoxide sensors.

but i just want the simple door/window sensors & motion detectors with dial feature thank you!

Answer
the simplest one is the G.E. Simon XT. It is a wireless, self-contained, user-friendly alarm system that dials out and is, in my opinion, the easiest one for a regular person with no alarm technician experience, to program.

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How many carbon monoxide detectors are to be installed?

carbon monoxide detectors how many do i need image

cpxchiseen

Beginning as of July 1, 2011, all homes of California must install carbon monoxide detectors. However does the law specify where the detectors are to be installed and how many? Should I just replace every smoke detector with a carbon monoxide/smoke detector or add carbon monoxide detectors in specific spots?

Answer
Our towns code states that there should be one for every smoke-detector. And there has to be 1 smoke detector on each story + one in each room that could, possibly, maybe be used as a bedroom someday + one directly outside each room that could, possibly, maybe be used someday as a bedroom + one inside and outside each hallway + one by each egress door + one within 5 feet of the furnace + one in each bathroom
I would need 17 in the house I'm living in. Since the regulations are so stupid and overbearing, I only have 1 (and am in gross violation of the International Property Maintenance Code)

btw I live in a crappy little ghost town in the Midwest
Republicans LOVE pushing regulations on poor people

My carbon monoxide detector beeped only once?

Michelle N

My carbon monoxide detector beeped only once and has not gone off again. I put in fresh batteries about a month ago. What could it be?

Answer
they beep once a month as a test for battery's it should still be tested ever 3 months...... just push test & check it .

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