09-28-2024, 10:29 PM
(09-28-2024, 09:11 PM)rubes Wrote: But, same as you, if it was bad enough to get me sick, why didn't the detector go off till so much later?
The detector was in the same room as the furnace, and the bedroom is on the opposite end of the house.
Because CO detectors now days are worthless unless you buy a low level detector. The standard smoke / CO detectors in my house are not designed to alarm unless it detects deadly amounts of CO for a certain amount of time. Apparently it's OK with those who write the standards to breathe higher levels of carbon monoxide intermittently as long as it doesn't exceed a specified time period.
Since it is still summertime the only thing running was the water heater very occasionally. Had it been the middle of winter with the furnace running off and on all day/night long as well the CO detectors might have gone off.
I pulled out the paperwork for my "First Alert" detectors:
Quote:REGULATORY INFORMATION FOR
SMOKE/CO ALARMS
REGULATORY INFORMATION FOR CO ALARMS
WHAT LEVELS OF CO CAUSE AN ALARM?
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Standard UL2034 requires residential CO
Alarms to sound when exposed to levels of CO and exposure times as
described below. They are measured in parts per million (ppm) of CO
over time (in minutes).
UL2034 Required Alarm Points*:
• If the alarm is exposed to 400 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
BETWEEN 4 and 15 MINUTES.
• If the alarm is exposed to 150 ppm of CO, IT MUST ALARM
BETWEEN 10 and 50 MINUTES.
• If the alarm is exposed to 70 ppm if CO, IT MUST ALARM
BETWEEN 60 and 240 MINUTES.
* Approximately 10% COHb exposure at levels of 10% to 95% Relative
Humidity (RH).
The unit is designed not to alarm when exposed to a constant level
of 30 ppm for 30 days.
CO Alarms are designed to alarm before there is an immediate life
threat. Since you cannot see or smell CO, never assume it’s not present.
• An exposure to 100 ppm of CO for 20 minutes may not affect
average, healthy adults, but after 4 hours the same level may cause
headaches.
• An exposure to 400 ppm of CO may cause headaches in average,
healthy adults after 35 minutes, but can cause death after 2 hours.
Standards: Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Single and Multiple Station
carbon monoxide alarms UL2034.
According to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL2034, Section 1-1.2:
“Carbon monoxide alarms covered by these requirements are intended
to respond to the presence of carbon monoxide from sources such as,
but not limited to, exhaust from internal-combustion engines, abnormal
operation of fuel-fired appliances, and fireplaces. CO Alarms are intended
to alarm at carbon monoxide levels below those that could cause a loss
of ability to react to the dangers of Carbon Monoxide exposure.” This CO
Alarm monitors the air at the Alarm, and is designed to alarm before CO
levels become life threatening. This allows you precious time to leave
the house and correct the problem. This is only possible if Alarms are
located, installed, and maintained as described in this manual.
I have a personal low level CO detector that you wear on your person/tool bag meant for use by service techs. It's default settings for the alarms are 35PPM for the "low" alert, (heads up!) and 200PPM for the "high" alert (meaning GET OUT NOW!). When we weren't feeling well I turned it on to check the level in the house but the battery was dead. I hadn't used it for a couple of years. It uses a not so common lithium battery (1/2AA) that is soldered onto the PCB of the detector. By the time I ordered another battery and waited for it to be delivered it was already too late. Of course the manufacturer wants you to just throw it away and buy another detector ($300) when the battery goes dead. "No user serviceable parts inside."
No thank you! Working like a champ again and hopefully I'll still be around to replace it again 2 years from now.
Willie