Concerning the dangers of carbon monoxide leakage in the home?

Question

if the gas does leak,does it sink down or rise up...where would you place a detector?

Answer 1

A co detector should be positioned within close proximaty (within a metre) of a gas appliance, co maximum advised levels are very low, 400 parts per MILLION (very small amount) will cause headaches and dizziness, loss of conciousness after 2 hours and will kill in 3 hours. 12,800 (which is still a small amount) will kill in under 2 minutes, so placing a detector upstairs would do no good.

Answer 2

Buy a pack of 2 Carbon Monoxide Indicators from www.coopersdirect.com and use at home or on holiday. Place the indicators near the gas appliance for earliest warning. More conventional detectors are available - prices from £35

Answer 3

The devices, are widely available, can either be battery-operated or AC powered (with or without a battery backup). Batteries should be replaced regularly to guarantee proper operation. (They generally last about a year; most detectors are designed to signal a low-battery condition.)

It is important to install the detector in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. CO detectors can be placed near the ceiling or near the floor as CO is very close to the same density as air[2]. Detectors should be placed outside the bedrooms.[1]

Since CO is colorless and odorless (unlike smoke from a fire), detection in a home environment is impossible without such a warning device. In North America, some state, provincial and municipal governments require installation of CO detectors in new units -

All CO detectors have "test" buttons and, like smoke detectors, should be tested regularly (weekly or monthly).

Common modern (2007) battery-powered models have a limited life (of about seven years), and are designed to signal a need to be replaced after that timespan

Answer 4

CO has about the same density as air, so the placement of the detector can be low (like a wall outlet model) or high, near the ceiling. (You should always install according to the manufacturer's instructions, of course.) I have both kinds: the one in the garage is plugged into the wall; the one in the bedroom hallway is a fancy combo smoke & CO detector.

Answer 5

fozzed got almost everything right. Fire alarms and smoke detectors need to be close to the bedrooms, CO2 detectors need to be placed in close proximity to the gas appliances. (i.e. gas water heater, gas dryer, gas furnace, gas stove.) You want the alarm to sound long before the CO2 concentrations are anywhere near the bedrooms.

Answer 6

Carbon monoxide is heavier than air, so you would place your detector lower down.