CO-2 detector went off

[henryswife]

We were out shopping today, and when we came home to bring some things down stairs, the CO-2 detector went off when I opened the door. So, we called the fire dept. to check out the the whole house with their CO-2 meter. Thought maybe something was wrong with the new furnace we just got about 6 mo. ago. Turned on heat & ran the hot water. Reading '0' Garages '0' Actic '0' Asked them to check where the birds were, reading '7' Now, no one was home all day, no cooking, no nothing. They said '7-10 is normal' not to worry about the birds.
The birds were all fine, just looking at these firemen checking them out, like this is our bed time,but were active.
One of them said 'last yr. they got a call from a lady that came home and found all 20 of her birds dead, she was crying. He said it was very sad, but the CO-2 was Very high in her house, and could not give her an ans. Well she finally found out why, but didn't remember the reason. So, I gave them a run down to the 3 firemen who came about using teflon pans-sented candles-air fresh. etc. and they thanked me for the info. and said to call any time. They could tell & see that they were well cared for, and as the last one left he said 'They're like your babies to worry about them'
This CO-2 is 7 yrs. old & they said you should replace them & smoke detectors every 5 yrs. Dust etc. can build up in them.
I did open windows a little because it's cool out now, but better safe than sorry.

'Please, everyone reading this post to get a CO-2 detector, and check your smoke detector batterys'
The best CO-2 is a plug in one with battery back-up like we have, but going out to buy a new one tomorrow!! or 2 or 3 to put in different parts of the house etc.

A 'CO-2' is a 'Carbon Monoxide Detector'

Alice

[kerryandgoofy]

Mine have gone off a few times. I get power surges and then have had the power go off many times this spring. It's a quick chirp for me, not the sound they should make if there is a problem. I didn't know when they should be replaced. I will think about how long I have had these and mark it on them do know when to replace them.

Kerry

[Michael B]

My smoke detector still goes off before things are too badly burned in the oven, so I guess it still works, although it's 15 years old.
To be picky, it occurred to me 1/2 way through reading the post that CO2 is carbon dioxide. CO is carbon monoxide. "CO2" just comes more readily to the tongue.

[henryswife]

Micheal,
We had the older smoke detector's that went off when we used the toaster. I think it had a nose for smell more than smoke!!! I left something on the stove simmering yrs. ago and went outside forgetting about it and the kitchen was all smokey and the alarm did not go off!!! I know batteries were changed and alarm was tested all the time.
Our new house is wired with smoke alarms that all go off on all floors, attic -2nd.-1st. floor & cellar. And now they want you to put an alarm above every bedroom door on the inside because the doors are closed. A candle - wiring - etc. could start a fire and may be too late to trip off the one in the hall way.
A CO detector is not only for the furnace room or garage, appliances in the kitchen give off carbon monoxide. That's what the firemen asked first when they came. I insisted to have the vent above the stove to vent OUTSIDE like I had !!! They said 'you loose a lot of heat that way in the winter' I said ' I Want The Steam Etc. Out!!! Not Back In!!!'
Now my next big job I have to do is pull out the washer and dryer to vac. all that dust back there. The vent going outside is done often, another thing I insisted I wanted. 'Don't want all that moisture back in the house - mold!
Alice

[Michael B]

It is a shame, 'though, to waste all that energy by sending it outside. It would be nice if there were an economical effective device to remove the moisture and dust so the air could stay in the house.

[henryswife]

I'm sure they could come up with something, but would people remember to clean them often?
You have to remember to clean these vents often or what good is a clogged one? And remember the 'A C' filters.