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Entry bubble Battery Check: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

By: Marybeth | October 30, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

As cooler temperatures approach and we begin using heaters, fireplaces, and candles, it’s a good time to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. The standard recommendation is to check them when the time changes. Since we’re “falling back” on Sunday, November 4, the time is now.

The batteries in smoke detectors should be replaced at least once a year. If you don’t have smoke alarms, get them today! Battery-operated detectors are inexpensive and easy to set up. If you have trouble installing and cannot get assistance from a relative or friend, call the non-emergency number for your local fire department.

Households should also have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and extremely toxic. Sources of CO include gas-fired appliances (e.g., stove, furnace, clothes dryer), grills, and motor vehicles. CO detectors should be used in combination with the proper use and maintenance of your fuel-burning appliances.

I’ve had false alarms with both types of units. Anyone with a smoke detector near the kitchen has probably done their share of frantic towel-waving. While this presents a good opportunity to burn a few calories before a meal, I try to avoid such workouts by using the kitchen exhaust fan.

I’ve only had one false alarm with my CO detector. I don’t know what caused it to sound (household cleaners can apparently be a trigger), but I do know that it wasn’t due to CO (the fire department checked my home and gave me the all-clear).

In the grand scheme, the nuisances presented by these potentially life-saving devices are negligible.

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: alarm   carbon   home   monoxide   safety   smoke  

Comments (3):

blue comment bubble Posted by Thomas on October 31, 2007 at 10:39 AM EDT

Thank you for the reminder about changing the batteries to the Smoke and CO detectors.

Thomas

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blue comment bubble Posted by Golf Pro on November 02, 2007 at 08:42 PM EDT

Recently I have been having problems with CO monitor. I replaced the batter, but that was a temporary solution. I had the gas company come out. They said there was a minor leak and fixed it.
The false alarms kept coming. It seems like most of them were when we had company. I finally unplugged it I decided to either buy a top of the line monitor or forget it. I got along without one for more years than I care to tell.

I also seem to have trouble finding the comments and responses you get. Where are they?

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blue comment bubble Posted by Marybeth on November 04, 2007 at 09:29 AM EST

Golf Pro, thank you for your comments and question. I imagine that having numerous false CO alarms could be extremely disturbing (both because of the noise and the uncertainty about the air you're breathing). On the positive side, one of your false alarms revealed a minor leak--I suppose that even a small leak is not a good thing.

As for your question... when you click on the "Comments" link under each blog entry, you can find comments and responses posted under the paragraph that explains Gov Gab's comment policy. There's a horizontal line across the top and bottom of each comment.

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