check/replace your CO detector and smoke detector ASAP!

Quest

Folks,
It's that time of the year where winter is just around the corner, and all families dwell/stay indoors for most of their time.

Time to check/replace your CO detector(s) and smoke detector(s) and replaced their batteries with fresh new ones (use Alkaline only, don't use cheep ones for they only last a month or 2 before they need to be replaced again).

Last nite while over @ my MIL's house (wifey complained about hearing intermittent beeping in her house days before), discovered that the CO detector already reached it's 8yr service life, and emits a beep to notify for replacement. Also discovered that one of the 2 long-life (runs on lithium 9V battery) smoke detector failed completely and in need of immediate replacement.

So, if you have smoke detectors throughout the house, perform the following checks:

if your smoke (ion detection based)detector hasn't been replaced for 6 yrs or older, replace it with a fresh new unit and start over again. That smail radioactive piece inside that does the job will gradually lose it's effectiveness over time (due to radioactive decay, normal process).

If your smoke detector runs on battery, press the test button to see if it beeps.

If your smoke detector battery is weak (typically, in that case: it should emit a periodic beep with 1 to 2 mins in between, may combined with a faint LED flash also), replace it right-away.

If your smoke detector runs on AC, check by pressing the button to ensure that it works. Also: if the unit is 6 or 7 yrs or older, consider replacing them with fresh new ones.

If your smoke detector is the photoelectric style, get a can of compressed air and clear the detector casing from accumulated dust and dirt and replace with fresh new battery. Test it by pressing the button also (or get a burning incense stick close to it and see if it works)

For CO detectors, press the button.

If CO detectors such as Nitehawk, or Kidde, etc. emits a beep every 2 mins or so, the unit has past usable service life and in need of immediate replacement. For those with digital display, it would display "Err" or similar code.

Replace them with a fresh new unit and get a magic marker to mark the installation date on the casing for visual reminder.

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Lastly, due to the recent cold blanket in GVRD area (where the temperature inversion trapped all the moisture close to ground, causing widespread fog issues), this temperature inversion may lead to backdrafting on some houses (that runs on natural gas water heater and/or natural gas furnace, boilers, etc.) and CO will seep into the inside of the house as a result.

While calling for immediate serivicing and inspection helps, during the meantime: consider installing a new CO detector physically close to the boiler room. It will save your family from CO-related deaths.

Any questions, please reply or post away.


Q.

fibbi

Just wondering, my house is using floor heating. So it's less urgent for checking CO detector?

Quest

回復 2# fibbi


    @fibbi:

As a matter of fact: if your in-floor heating is running on natural gas (justl ike mine), you should consider getting a CO detector installed right-away.

Depending on the execution of the unit: sometimes, with newer, more air-tight houses (recent housing codes since 2001 or so), with lots of insulation and negative air pressure in the house, you might get exhaust gas backdrafting (as opposed to flowing out of the house, it flows backwards into the house) under certain weather conditions...

In my case: this backdrafting happened 3x last year during winter months and triggered my CO detector. I was able to open the window to get rid of the CO, investigated the issue and resolved it.

Q.

Quest

tips:

HomeDepot.ca currently has a CO detector on-sale for 24.95
HomeHardware also has a CO detector on-sale for 17.98

smoke detectors are on-sale both @ homedepot and Lowes Canada.


Q. (just bought 2 CO detectors for HomeHardware this morning to replace my MIL's)

fibbi

Thanks for the tip Quest.

So those CO detector need some specialist to install?

Quest

@ fibbi,

No special tools/specialist needed. Just find a nearby (closest to your boiler room) AC wall outlet(aka "wall jacks") and plug it in.

In the case where your boiler room is in the garage, then install your CO detector closest to the garage door (wall jack).


Alternatively:you can buy an all-battery type as well.

Q.

fibbi

Thanks for the info! Very helpful!