I have an old furnace FAG (Forced Air Gas) furnace which is 40 yrs old.
I called the utility company and asked if they would come over and check it to see if it was operating safely and they did so today.
They turned on the furnace and took readings at each vent in each room and everything is fine.
There is no charge for this service.
The tech noticed my carbon monoxide detector and said they need to be replaced every couple of years.
He commented that the detectors were not really that accurate as they would have a false reading, for example, from cigarette smoke.
Other false readings come from cleaning solutions such as amonia.
Other false readings even come from air fresheners or from incense.
I’m scratching my head and wondering if it’s worth it to even buy another CO detector.
Replies
Better to have a false reading every now and again (tho' you apparently never have, so why worry about it?) than NO reading when you need one.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
I have a CO detector. It's my personal choice. Yet, I oppose any attempt to make them mandatory.
I oppose that, because of the false readings. Because, yes, they only last 5 years. Because the they operate well only in a very limited temperature range. Because the technology has such a long way to go.
They are a very flawed technology, but they can save lives. Dennis Dixon put one in a house and had a call from the owners about this obnoxious smoke detector that wouldn't stop going off and it was giving him everyone in the house a headache... Saved three or four lives that night. I've watched my little brother grilling steaks in his garage with the garage door cracked 3 inches against a snow storm and the CO blowing under the door into the mud room. That ice storm out west, fifty cases of CO poisoning, one fatal. We see folks running generators in the garage and using charcoal grills inside during power outages.I agree they aren't ready for prime time and shouldn't be mandatory but it would sure save a few lives if they were more commonly used and properly maintained. I've been through CO poisoning about 20 years ago. The wife and kid were getting sick from a cracked heat exchanger on a four year old furnace but I was in and out of the house working and so forth and was fine. A CO detector would have helped me figure it out a lot quicker. ------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
buy a nighthawk digital co detector.50.00 at lowes. they really do a excellent job,if you doubt them go start your car in the garage and let it run,in about 10 mins the detector will pick it up in the other end of the house.larry
if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
The heck with the CO detector, how 'bout replacing the 40 year old furnace!
It may not be leaking combustion gases into your breathing air it's still about 65% efficient, maybe.
You're right and I can't argue. I'm tight with my money and just don't want to spend the $$ - I've got other priorities right now.Probably not a smart move - especially when I worry about that old furnace and the potential health risks.Thanks for your input.
Certainly reasonable apporach. If it aint broke, don't fix it, Mr Fix It.
OTH, I personally believe that the value of the $10/year replaceble device (assuming they cost $50 and last 5 years) far exceeds the cost. Whether the value is nil or life saving, less than the cost of a tank of gasoline, is a relative non-cost.
>>I called the utility company and asked if they would come over and check it to see if it was operating safely and they did so today.
>>They turned on the furnace and took readings at each vent in each room and everything is fine.
Everything but the way they tested it.
Testing at the vents is the way CO testing is shown in the Professional Equipment catalogue. So far as I know, the Professional Catalogue Photographer's CO Testing Protocol" is not the, er, latest word in CO safety analysis. (In other words, they didn't know jack **** about what they were doing.
Check the National Comfort Institute Website for a trained CO Safety and Combustion Analyst near you.
May your whole life become a response to the truth that you've always been loved, you are loved and you always will be loved" Rob Bell, Nooma, "Bullhorn"
"We Live" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kuBgh0VCqI&mode=related&search
And Annie Ross's "Twisted" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqivrCIRGo&mode=related&search=
Edited 12/18/2007 7:39 pm ET by rjw
BTW, I don't agree with all of the views on CO detectors posted here, but agree that as a minimum you want a digital readout type CO detector.
Mount it about eye level in the bedroom of the most vulnerable person in the house (i.e., the person who is the farthest from being a healthy adult.)
Ideally, one on each living level.
If there is vulnerable person, use a low level detector that reads down to 5ppm, (not a retail digital type)
E.g., infant, old folk, pregnant woman. person with heart disease, immune system problems, prior CO exposure.
FWIW, I have studied CO testing and combustion analysis and practiced it for 8 years or so, having taken every CO testing course available (except one on the west coast which isn't offered any more.)
I don'tr accept anything I have read or learned about CO unless (i) I have verified it with my own testing or (ii) it comes from a recognized authority in the field (E.g., http://www.COheadquarters.com)
May your whole life become a response to the truth that you've always been loved, you are loved and you always will be loved" Rob Bell, Nooma, "Bullhorn"
"We Live" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kuBgh0VCqI&mode=related&search
And Annie Ross's "Twisted" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqivrCIRGo&mode=related&search=
When I bought this house 4-5 years ago I had it inspected and the HI got a hit with his CO testing equipment. He told me to call the utility co and have them check it.I did so and they came over and the Tech did a check of the home and found no problems.He commented that the utility co testing equipment was high tech and very expensive and he felt their equipment and methods were very reliable.When they test a home they take readings at each register in the home.They also take readings at the furnace.Maybe I'm missing something but it seems like what they are doing is reasonable and appropriate. What else are you going to do?