Had 4 CO detectors going off last night!

[Fod01]

This is not an active garage as yet. I'm restoring the MG that the engine in my avatar belongs to....not too actively I'm afraid.
For the really cold weather I bought a Mr Heater Hero to do a garage pre-heat before I ever step in to it...then electric space heater for focused heat. I never considered the CO level since I open the overhead door 2" while the propane is on. There is also a drafty side door as well as the gable vent to circulate some air (or bleed off the heat if your glass is half empty). Maybe the detector is overkill, but worth the bucks.

I'm aware of the potential issue with paint fumes and such with an open flame heater, but for now its a mechanical restore with maybe a squirt or 2 of penetrating fluid.

Thank you for the heads-up.
Gabe

EDIT: this is responding to rijim. Forgot to 'reply'

 

[CenterTree]

A funny occurrence we had with a digital CO detector years back. I had one near the pellet stove.

I was at work and the wife calls. She had a hint of fear in her voice.
"Honey, the alarm is flashing and beeping".

I told her to open the windows and get outside, but then I remembered that I had the stove unplugged and not running that day.

I asked her what the CO detector's screen said.

She replied, "LB".

I sighed in relief as I explained to her that it was time to change the LOW BATTERY.

 

[RickBlaine]

Thank you for posting and leading others to share stories and reminders.

I have a 1,450 sq ft. home with 14 smoke detectors, and 4 CO detectors. Growing up, I had two bad experiences- one with fire and one with CO. I figure I could spend tens of thousands on therapy or a hundred bucks on extra detectors. I chose the road more traveled....literally, I bought extra detectors and use the savings from therapy on travel money.

I am not materialistic, but every Black Friday when people are running over themselves in stores to get to the big screen TVs, I am the one jumping over grandmothers and little kids to get to those 9 volts on sale. If you are between me and a 9 volt Duracell on sale for a $1 it is Danger Will Robinson.

 

[Hogwildz]

I just replaced mine, remember, they are only good for 7 years.

 

[Knots]

Good Public Service Announcement. I need to get some CO detectors for the new house...

 

[Rossco]

Thankfully all was good with your family! Since your wife opened the windows B4 the dept got there, I wonder what the measurements would have been if she had not opened them?
Obviously higher.
Scary.

---------------------

My detectors are the kind without any digital readout. (we used to have one years ago) So I do not know what the ppm was in my house from the ash can, but I do know that the CO managed to make it ALL threw the house from the basement. (just as BrotherBart stated it does).

I am thinking to buy a digital one to add to the collection.

You and me both buddy. And thanks.

The system in integrated and hard wired in to the mains.

Some detectors don't just go off. Mine are like this:

30ppm 30mins before alarm.
70ppm 10mins before alarm.
400ppm is like 4mins or something.

Need to check the gas vents regular.

 

[firefighterjake]

I just replaced mine, remember, they are only good for 7 years.

Actually it depends on the manufacturer with CO alarms . . .smoke detectors are all at 10 years. CO detector replacement lies with the manufacturer which is anywhere from 3-7 years.

 

[snocross1985]

Scary stuff. Had a coworker pass away over Thanksgiving due to CO poisoning. Glad to hear you are ok and they did their job.

 

[MJFlores]

This is a great thread. I actually just bought a CO detector over the weekend...I'll remember to take the ash can outside and leave it on the brick walkway for now on. Never new CO could come from the ash bucket but it makes sense. I used to only take it out if it was really hot.

 

[AK13]

Any recommendations on what CO detectors to buy? I had a rectangle plug in the wall kind. That just died and I got a talking Kiddie CO and smoke alarm but I hate the thing. Too many false positive smoke alarms from the kitchen. Maybe another plug in CO detector that doesn't talk is in order.

I really never knew that ash cans were a CO danger until reading this site. I don't keep ashes indoors anyway, but still good information.

 

[DougA]

Too many false positive smoke alarms from the kitchen.

There are different types of smoke detectors, one type is not good near a kitchen, one is better. Still, if the alarm goes off enough to bother you, you might consider moving the detector or firing the cook.

Here's a link to learn the 2 main types. The package should clearly say which type it is when you buy it. I think there are some that combine both.
(broken link removed to http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/fire-and-safety-equipment/smoke-alarms/ionization-vs-photoelectric)

 

[MJFlores]

The detector I just bough seems like a good one. It's a Kiddie, and detects CO as well as gas leaks. I've only had it a few days but it hasn't gone off yet. I installed in in an outlet in a hallway leading toward the bedrooms. It's was around 40 bucks at Home Depot.

 

[AK13]

There are different types of smoke detectors, one type is not good near a kitchen, one is better. Still, if the alarm goes off enough to bother you, you might consider moving the detector or firing the cook.

Here's a link to learn the 2 main types. The package should clearly say which type it is when you buy it. I think there are some that combine both.
(broken link removed to http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/fire-and-safety-equipment/smoke-alarms/ionization-vs-photoelectric)

Thanks. I never knew about the two types. I'm guessing that the ionization kind is better for kitchen area, but the link doesn't say. I am going to move the detector as well. But one of our woodstoves is in the kitchen so I do want to keep a detector close to that room.

 

[CenterTree]

The detector I just bough seems like a good one. It's a Kiddie, and detects CO as well as gas leaks. I've only had it a few days but it hasn't gone off yet. I installed in in an outlet in a hallway leading toward the bedrooms. It's was around 40 bucks at Home Depot.

I saw that same one at HD. That would also be good if ya cook with (or have) Propane in the house.

 

[Ricky8443]

Let me start by putting this up...

I am chalking this one up for a learning experience and I am posting for the benefit of others here so they don't repeat my stupid act. Hope it helps.

I had 4 different CO detectors going off last night!

I have a basement install.

Started a fire around 4pm. Prepped the fire box by removing the excess ash/coals as they were just getting to be too deep. Shoveled them into the ash kettle and set it aside (on concrete floor)

Had a nice fire going for several hours. It ran it's course and turned to large coals/embers by around 11pm.

Was upstairs on the PC when I here BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP downstairs. I go down to find the one VERY old CO detector going off. This is one I had just left plugged in near where the old oil burner was. I knew it was "expired" but kept it anyway just because. I have 3 NEW ones in the house.

I checked the fire. Looked good. Since we have four CO detectors in the house and only the old one was yelling at me I figured it was just emitting a "signal of expiration". So I unplugged it and took it upstairs to examine it. It is 21 years old.

As I get upstairs I hear another BEEP BEEP BEEP! downstairs.

Now my brain shifts gear completely. I go straight to the basement door, open it, open the window nearest the stove. I start to seriously ponder what the source may be. Naturally I am concentrating on the stove.

I reset the detector and continue the search. It goes off again and then another one at the TOP of the stairs goes off. I now open all windows in the house and the doors.

As I am standing near the stove I figure while I have the basement door open I may as well take out the ash kettle and dump it since it was really raining hard out anyway.

I grab the ash bucket and darn near burn my hand it is so hot. Well, now I am both relieved and very much wanting to kick myself in the "ASH."

The source.
View attachment 146773
I then set the can outside and leave the house open.

As I go upstairs again a 4th CO detector goes off down the hall near the bedrooms.


I am still amazed and surprised that the little bit of embers that I picked up in the shovel smoldered for hours and caused 4 alarms to go off. Thankfully the CO detectors did their job. I REALLY LEARNED a lesson last night. Hope this helps someone.



WOW. I had an unsettling night.
Not to mention when I went outside to dump the ashes later I was chased by a skunk.

thank you for sharing....good stuff.

 

[CenterTree]

I just replaced mine, remember, they are only good for 7 years.

Actually it depends on the manufacturer with CO alarms . . .smoke detectors are all at 10 years. CO detector replacement lies with the manufacturer which is anywhere from 3-7 years.

We have 2 of this model. Battery CO detector. It has a 10 year life.
http://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/products/fire-safety/co-alarms/kn-cob-b-lpm/

 

[farmboy05]

First year burning and I've just been raking the ashes into the built in ash drawer on mine, then leaving it there till it's full before I take it outside. I think I'll start taking the ash outside right away from now on. Thank you for the reality check!

 

[Sprinter]

Every year we discuss how to clean out the ashes and the CO issue always comes up. But a true-life close call like this brings it home better than anything. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[billb3]

I have separate CO detectors on the wall in every room with a bed .
I suppose I should have one near the stove.
I had one in the office that read high (had a PPM readout) and went off because the battery went low.
Tried to make it go off with a new battery holding it right next to the tailpipe on the truck and I got tired of waiting. Outside in the parking lot I just couldn't get the readout on it to go much above 3 or 4 PPM.

 

[DougA]

First year burning and I've just been raking the ashes into the built in ash drawer on mine, then leaving it there till it's full before I take it outside. I think I'll start taking the ash outside right away from now on. Thank you for the reality check!

The ash drawer on mine has a full gasket so it should be sealed, no different than the stove. Yours may be different.

 

[lml999]

You're reminding me yet again to get a CO detector for the garage

Your car will set it off every time you back in.

 

[lml999]

The first thing you should do when a CO detector goes off is open all the windows and doors. - you could pass out & die trying to find out what is happening. I'll let Jake answer better than this.

+1

Then get out.

Then call 911.

We had to do this once when our kids were young. They thought the flashing lights and uniformed firemen were fascinating.

Firemen were similarly fascinated to determine that backing into the attached garage would cause the CO detector in the room next to the garage would go off. Cold night, someone left the door between the house and the garage open too long. Now I leave a window partially open in the garage most of the year and am careful about waiting to close the garage (rollup) door and keeping the garage-house door closed as much as possible.

Also, I change the detectors every 5 years. They're powered with battery backup.

 

[Charles1981]

I have a large galvanized metal trashcan dedicated to ash (30 gallons?). Basically takes the entire winter to fill up. Ash from inside goes directly outside into the metal can. But I heavily use my ash collection tray in the Encore and only tiny pieces of coal slip through. I never leave ash inside I think it just makes a mess anyway with fine particulate matter.

 

[rkofler]

Thank you for sharing this story. I admit to storing ash in metal bucket inside until if fills up. Will never do it again, moving right to outside bucket sitting on concrete.