Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that kills about 500 people in this country every year. Cases spike during the winter home heating season.
You need at least one carbon monoxide alarm in your house.
State law now requires CO detectors in most older homes, all new homes, as well as all apartments and condos.
"A carbon monoxide alarm is sniffing the air 24 hours a day and it will give you advanced warning," says John Drengenberg at Underwriter's Labs. "It's a very sophisticated device."
Drengenberg says CO monitors are normally placed on the ceiling to keep them out of the way. But they can go anywhere in the house, high or low.
"That's because carbon monoxide fills the entire living space rather equally."
The key is to have a Carbon monoxide monitor - a UL listed monitor - on every level of your home.
"Most importantly, have it outside the sleeping areas. So if it goes off in the middle of the night you can hear it very well."
If the alarm does go off: open the windows, call 911 and get outside into the fresh air right away. Don't go back inside until emergency help arrives.
For more information
Carbon Monoxide Alarms FAQ
Consumer Reports: CO & Smoke Alarm Buying Guide
You need at least one carbon monoxide alarm in your house.
State law now requires CO detectors in most older homes, all new homes, as well as all apartments and condos.
"A carbon monoxide alarm is sniffing the air 24 hours a day and it will give you advanced warning," says John Drengenberg at Underwriter's Labs. "It's a very sophisticated device."
Drengenberg says CO monitors are normally placed on the ceiling to keep them out of the way. But they can go anywhere in the house, high or low.
"That's because carbon monoxide fills the entire living space rather equally."
The key is to have a Carbon monoxide monitor - a UL listed monitor - on every level of your home.
"Most importantly, have it outside the sleeping areas. So if it goes off in the middle of the night you can hear it very well."
If the alarm does go off: open the windows, call 911 and get outside into the fresh air right away. Don't go back inside until emergency help arrives.
For more information
Carbon Monoxide Alarms FAQ
Consumer Reports: CO & Smoke Alarm Buying Guide
Mine is so sensitive, I swear it would go off if I fart in its general direction.
Does having a canary in my home count?
Read this:Â http://seattleareahomeinspector.com/
If it's the law then what is the penalty for not having one?
@therunner There is no penalty. However, they are required if you want to sell your house - can not close the deal unless you have a working unit in your home. If you are building a house, you must have a working unit in the house before your house is certified for occupancy. If you just plan to continue living in your current home, you'll be breaking the law if you don't have a working detector, but no one will nail you for it.
I had one in my house years ago and received a false positive alarm, the fire department came out and told me those detectors are worthless that as long as you have newer equipment in your home you really don't need one so I threw it away and never looked back.
 @Mickey602 I have several in my Motor home because I have propane heater, frig and stove, but there is no safe way to test them to be sure they will detect. At least with smoke detector you can cook dinner and have them go off, I like to increase my carbon foot print.
This new law makes as much sense as a screen door on a submarine when you have all electric utilities. The stores and Manufacturers lobbied for this, so now you can pay thripple because it is the law
How will this be enforced, other than during apartment inspections/inspections prior to sale?