Carbon Monoxide / Smoke Alarm

Has anyone replaced the builder smoke alarms with a carbon monoxide/smoke alarm combination units? If so, how many of them need to be carbon monoxide detecting? For example, my upper floor probably has at least 5-6 smoke alarms (one per bedroom and hallway). Would it be sufficient to put a carbon monoxide alarm in just the hallway, or does each room need one?

Also, you might want to test your units to make sure that they are working properly. I couldn't belive it, but the builder forgot to wire the "trigger" wire on one of my detectors. This wire sends a signal to ALL of the smoke alarms in the house if one goes off. For two years now we have been living without this feature in one of our bedrooms. It works both ways, so when another alarm goes off, it would not have triggered the alarm with the missing wire. The best way to test it so set one off and walk around to EVERY alarm and make sure that each has been triggered. It is a pain, but could prove to be life saving.

Finally, I noticed that the builder really went cheap with the alarms. I couldn't even find the brand (looking for manual) on the internet. I am considering replacing them all with a well known brand (Kidde), and based on my question above, some will be carbon manoxide alarms too. The builder alarms really seem poorly made. Replacemenrt may not be necessary as I am sure the builder alarms work just fine and pass all standards tests, but just like tires, airbags, and other relied upon devices, I want the piece of mind that the device will work when needed.

Anyway, if anyone has information on replacing the alarms with the carbon monoxide type, please let me know. Thanks!

 

Testing the "trigger" is something any reasonably competent home inspector should have caught, and it is something you probably could have noticed during the suggested monthly testing of your detectors. This doesn't excuse the fact that the builder didn't hook it up, but there is no good reason for it to have gone unnoticed for two years. I guess that's a good lesson for all.

Are combination smoke/CO detectors common? I would think that a ceiling-mounted CO detector would be useless, since CO is heavier than air. I thought that CO detectors are supposed to be mounted on the floor for early warning. If a ceiling-mounted CO detector goes off, everyone/thing in the house below ceiling level would already be dead!

 

Carbon Monoxide is not heavier than air:

"When considering where to place a Carbon Monoxide Detector, keep in mind that although Carbon Monoxide is roughly the same weight as air (Carbon Monoxide's specific gravity is 0.9657, as stated by the EPA; the National Resource Council lists the specific gravity of air as one), it may be contained in warm air coming from combustion appliances such as home heating equipment. If this is the case, Carbon Monoxide will rise with the warmer air."

from http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/carbon_monoxide_detectors.htm

 

Mr. Linux and others--

We have the carbon monoxide detectors in our home that you plug-in. Great products and works well. Also, the smoke detectors works well. Be sure if you have a multi-level home that you have the detectors on each floor including the basement areas (smoke and carbon monoxide detectors).

Foodie

 

They are not inexpensive, but this is the model that was recommended by Kidde (and it is designed to be mounted on the ceiling).

http://www.amazon.com/Kidde-Combina...18-2971349?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1191444268&sr=1-4

 

Not true Pats_fan, in fact they are just as effective:

"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]"

source "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_detector"

 

Neighbor thanks for the excellent information also!

Lee j

 

I saw a commercial within the last few days for one of these types of products. I noticed they were advertising "It's the LAW." I hadn't heard that...

 

You're pretty smart for a guy who wears a bag on his head!