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Carbon Monoxide Detectors - if you don't have 'em, get 'em

Discussion in 'Family Life - Stories, Pictures & Updates' started by keesmom, Apr 22, 2009.

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  1. Apr 22, 2009 #1
    keesmom

    keesmom Overrun With Chickens

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    I thought I'd relate our experience this evening concerning our carbon monoxide detectors. A boring topic I know but one I think is important.

    We live in MA where they are now required, but we have a place in Maine where they aren't. But given we have a wood stove and an oil furnace I definitely wanted them so we put at least one on each level.

    This evening just after I finally had managed to get our daughter to sleep and my son was getting ready to go to bed I heard our basement detector. When I went down there it read 72 ppm, and it was flashing that we needed to get outside now. Now that detector has been there for 4 years so DH was inclined to think it was starting to fail. I wasn't so sure but I put a new battery in it and put it back in the basement. All was quiet for 5 minutes then it went off again.

    I couldn't ignore it this time so I called 911 for the first (and hopefully last) time. While I was on the phone with them a second alarm went off, this one on the main level. Obviously something really is wrong so we all went outside. Luckily one of our neighbors is one if the volunteer firefighters and he was here in mere minutes, followed by the others. They waited for the truck and the sensor before entering the house.

    Immediately upon entering the sensors went off. Our detectors were right - there WAS carbon monoxide. It read 72 ppm, just like our basement detector had said. They determined our furnace had malfunctioned. They opened all the doors and windows and ran fans to air out the house. Luckily it's springtime and it isn't too cold.

    Anyway, if you live in a state that doesn't require carbon monoxide detectors and you have a wood stove or oil burner, please consider getting one if you don't have them already. Even if it turns out to be a false alarm it's worth it. If we hadn't had them we would have gone to bed not knowing anything was wrong. Who knows how high the level could have gone. Our kids could have gone to sleep, to never wake up again.

    -Cindy in MA
     
  3. Apr 22, 2009 #2
    Cajunsamoan

    Cajunsamoan Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I'm so glad you had the detectors and listened to them.
     
  5. Apr 22, 2009 #3
    Chirpy

    Chirpy Balderdash

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    Thank you for sharing. You are so right... they are vitally important.

    So glad you all Ok.
     
  7. Apr 22, 2009 #4
    Imp

    Imp All things share the same breath- Chief Seattle

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    My real estate broker buys them as housewarming gifts for all her clients. I have mine.
    Thanks for the important reminder.

    Imp/Russ
     
  9. Apr 22, 2009 #5
    ranchhand

    ranchhand Rest in Peace 1956-2011

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    Happy ending to a scary story. They are vital to ANY house- we put them in after we started using our fireplece regularly. And I sincerely hope I never hear them or the smoke detectors. (except for the one that goes off when I cook dinner... [​IMG] )

    Good for you for paying attention to it!




    I also have fire extinguishers everywhere in the house- even one in the bathroom!
     
  11. Apr 22, 2009 #6
    keesmom

    keesmom Overrun With Chickens

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    Quote:We have several fire extinguishers too! Definitely near the kitchen and wood stove.

    The same CO detector on the main level that went off tonight is the same one that goes off just about every time I cook dinner as well (the main level one is a smoke alarm/CO detector). [​IMG] However I will never complain about it again. It definitely did it's job tonight.

    If you hear them go off, listen! The fire department would rather you be safe than sorry too.

    -Cindy
     
  13. Apr 22, 2009 #7
    EweSheep

    EweSheep Flock Mistress

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    We have all three smoke and CO detectors all three floors in our house. We could not stress enough and people think its an overkill but to me, lives worth alot to me than contents of the house (including the chicks, sorry!).

    It was hubby's idea to have them and a few times it went off because I had smoke coming off from my toaster and twice from burned cooking. At least they were working.

    We always replace batteries every fall, at the time we turn our clocks back.
     
  15. Apr 22, 2009 #8
    claud

    claud Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Oh, yikes!
    I have one detector........maybe I should get another.
    Very scary.
     
  17. Apr 23, 2009 #9
    HennysMom

    HennysMom Keeper of the Tiara

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    we have smoke detectors in just about every room or in between 2 rooms and on every floor. We also have carbon monoxide detectors as well.

    Reminder: if you have a camper or RV - put them in there as well [​IMG]


    Another reminder: check your fire extinguishers to ensure they are rated for what you intend to use them for. An electrical fire and a kitchen fire are 2 different things, and as such, there are different extinguishers for each. Also note that extinguishers expire - whether you use them or not. They will have a guage on them, if the guage is into the yellow, its halfway spent on air to force out the mixture - if its in the red - you need a new one.

    Be safe!
     
  19. Apr 23, 2009 #10
    flopshot

    flopshot Chillin' With My Peeps

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    this is how it's supposed to work out. glad you had them AND the brains to test and react to the situation. i was helping my boss set up a rental property and talking to the gas guy who was hooking up the water heater. when he was done i mentioned all i had left to do was the three smoke detectors and the CO detector. this proffessional moron said "you don't need those things. you'll get a headache if there's CO in the house anyway." i asked "what the heck happens if you're sleeping at the time ?"
    he had no answer. [​IMG]
     
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