carbon monoxide detectors on ebay image
no
I moved into a new home a little over a year ago and have been having on going problems with mild/ moderate levels of Carbon monoxide in my home. I have severl CO detecters in my home, one as part of the smoke detector system and then several wall mounts. the alarm will sound when the level reaches 50 and it goes off when I have closed the windows for a length of time. This is about once every few months. The wall mount detector has a window to register peak levels and it ussually reads 10 -27. it does not alarm until it hits 30 though. I know that those are low levels but still worrisome. and need to find the source. soon after moving in we had significant levels of co in the house and required medical care. At that time I had someone go through the house, test it, and make repairs. The problem is still there though. My home has a wood burning stove which is hardly ever used, a propane gas oven and range, and for heat and hot water we use heating fuel to run a boiler. I do live in a eemote area with limited support services. Question: what are the sources of CO and how do I check for it? Any advice on how to deal with a home with low levels of CO in it. I can not leave the windows open 24/7 and that is what I am having to do now. Should we see a physician again and if so what tests should we request?
I am in northern Alaska so my house is very weatherized. Maybe to well it seems.
i was not able to get a tif detector but am using the wall co monitior to test around the house. it has a backup battery with ac plug. will it take readings with just the battery? also do you know how to rest the peak level on the Kidee wall mount CO detector?
Thanks all for the help and ideas
Answer
If everything is vented or working properly your co readings should be zero. Long term effects will cause fatigue, headaches, and a number of other ailments. Sources of co could be many or few depending on the home and appliances. Pilot lights on older gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters and dryers if not vented properly or are malfunctioning causing a larger than average flame can emit a substantial amount of co. Newer appliances often have electronic ignitiers with no pilot lights. Gas grills, running cars, lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, anything that runs on a fuel can cause co. Maybe you can borrow a hydrocabon detector (Tif) from a heating contractor. A Tif detector will detect ppm levels of hydrocarbons (meaning leaking propane or natural gas) in addition to Carbon Monoxide. You would wave it around appliances, pipes, regulators, tanks, etc and it will detect and help you pinpoint problem areas. A new Tif detector is around $200. Maybe you could find one on ebay inexpensively. Maybe by placing co detectors near each possible problem appliance you could zero in on the source or sources of the CO. I wish you much luck.
Work and Exhaust/gas/paint fumes.Harmful?
chelseyrae
I work in the office part of a shop. Sometimes the guys in the back run the machines and trucks or painting. The vents pull the air from the shop. When I come in the morning the fumes are so strong I can taste them and make me a little sick and sometimes give me a headache. They don't run the machines and trucks when I'm actually here, well they usually don't and when they do they open the big doors , but the smelly fumes still come in here strongly. I was wondering how dangerous could this be to me?
We have a carbon monoxide detector and it doesn't detect anything.
Answer
Chronic exposure to any airway irritant is potentially harmful to your lungs and remaining aspects of your respiratory system. Buy an N95 mask for use when the fumes are inherently strong or become more bothersome to you. Keep it in your desk drawer and use it whenever you need it.
You can find them at auto parts stores, Wal-Mart and eBay.
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