Think I was kidding?

Patchogue Phil_32

Hi Mark

What is the brand and model of the home CO detectors that can detect extremely low levels? NOT the portable monitoring equipment.

I had bookmarked a link to it on my other computer which died.

Mark Hunt

Well take a look

at this.

You take from it what you want.

CO kills. What did you do today to keep from being in one of my posts?

Mark H

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Douglas Hicks

About 1.5 years ago my girlfriend started to complain about headaches, a feeling of moisture in the air, and an odd smell in our house. her conscern was CO. Of course, being a man and knowing all things mechanical, I told her she did not know what she was talking about. I also knew from my days as an EMT that the symptoms of CO poisoning were cheery red skin color, headaches, and that CO was a colorless, odorless gas. At that time I already was monitering this site to increase my knowledge of piping, both gas and water. When she started to complain, I paid closer attention to CO postings. I learned enough to call the local gas company to bring their CO monitor to my house. They did and left me a free gift,which was a red tag, and a stern warning to have the heating system checked immediatly. I called a company we work with and they found the chimney was plugged and the HX was cracked. I ended up w/a new gas 97% effienciet furnace and no more headaches, moisture and smell.

Thanks to all for the postings about CO.

Now I can share a little information about CO with rest of the Wall. Of course there is some advertising in this message from System Sensor, they want to sell their product. http://systemsensor.com/html/lifesafety.html

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Mark Hunt

Hey Doug


Glad you lived to make that post.

Now go marry that girl!

Mark H



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ScottMP

Mark

My in-laws live in Buffalo. They have not had power for five days now. They called and said they were O.K. because they were using the unit heater in the family room.

I have seen this unit and its about thirty years old. They told my wife they out plastic at the kitchen door to keep the heat in the family room.

I thought about what you have told us.

I called and asked if they had a C.O. detector. They did and it was in the kitchen which was on the other side of the plastic. I told them to move the plastic wal to include the C.O. detector and maek sure not to run the heater to much.

Its all I can do from here but It might have made a huge difference in Christmas this year.

Keep on Keeping on.

Scott

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Troy_3

CO

Ya it's been a hoot here in Buffalo. 260,000 customers without power. The paper had an article that after two days into the storm the local childrens hospital had treated over a hundred children for CO exposure. Everything from gas ranges heating houses to generators in garages. This could be a real case study here. The warnings keep going out over the airwaves but the people without electric have a hard time hearing them. It looks like a war zone around here. The cause of the power outage was 2feet of wet snow bringing down trees and branches everywhere. When the trees come down the lines come with them. So now the trees must be removed before anything else can happen. In the meantime pepoles basements are filling with water.

John R. Hall

and do the survey

See CO survey thread

Constantin

NCI 3000 and CO Experts...

... if memory serves correctly, aeromedix.com sells the CoExperts unit on the internet whereas ony licensed contractors can buy the NCI unit. Mark prefers the NCI unit because it can alarm at lower levels than the CoExperts (5 vs. 20PPM?)

I have been happy with my COExperts unit.

Mark Hunt

CO Experts


George Kerr raised the alert level on his newer units because pilots were complaining that the alarms would sound when they started the engines. It is still a FAR better unit than any UL compliant model.

Remember, those sensors are only good for about 5 years regardless of which brand you buy. Keep a record of when they were purchased.

Stay safe all.

Mark H

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Perry_2

What I did

What I did to avoid being someones article was to install a sealed combustion boiler and replaced my hot water heater with an indirect - with coaxial vent and outside air supply - with the vent lines constructed of materials that are actually rated for the conditions that they may see (not PVC).

To simplify things for people: I installed a Vitodens 200 with the Viessmann vent system.

To do that I had to relocate the boiler across the basement - which cost more $ in installation; and sacrifice part of an upstairs closet where I ran the vent pipe into the first floor and then out of the house so that I would be at least a foot above the araa heavy snow line.

I wonder how many "professionals" are discussing the hidden advantage of using a sealed combustion boiler / furnace / water heater and a totally proper outside air air supply/vent system as it relates to possible CO poisening if things go wrong.

Since I no longer have an "indoor" combustion process - I no longer worry about CO; or about having to change batteries or CO detectors periodically.

Just one of the several factors I considered in my choice for a new boiler - and one of the key reasons I chose to relocate the boiler (I could have installed a different boiler with a forced air system and run the vent lines across the basement - and even ignored the snow line issue). Several heating contractors felt it was a waste to have outside combustion air. And then - why would I spend the money on the "over the top" Viessmann vent system? (I have been asked that by more than one heating guy).

Homeowners carry some responsibility too. But I wonder; how "professional" is a "professional" unless they present this issue and the advantages with sealed cumbustion/air supply/vent system - and a properely rated vent system to their customers?

I have heard people praise Viessmann; and I have heard people rag Viessmann - for what they did with the Vitodens Vent system.

You've all got your viewpoints; no problem with that. Ultimately, where will the liability - where will the responsibility lie if things go astray?

Me - I'm going to sleep well on this issue.

Perry

ALH_4

sealed combustion

When advising a potential customer on what boiler was appropriate for them, I always mentioned the safety of a sealed combustion boiler, whether it be a condensing boiler or a cast iron boiler. They have their benefits and their drawbacks at times.

I can think of almost no way for a Vitodens with the concentric vent to cause CO poisoning unless vented beneath an operable window or some other inappropriate place. This is an obvious advantage to using a concentric vent versus individual intake and exhaust. Even if the inner pipe was compromised, it would affect the boiler, but not poison anyone.

-Andrew