Replace Your Old CO Detector!!

I'm On Fire · Post by **I'm On Fire** » Thu. Jun. 17, 2010 6:03 pm

It's a gell that mimics Hemoglobin found in human blood. I'm not entirely sure how it is made. But when CO enters the sensing chamber in the CO detector it changes "colors" based on the density (PPM) of the CO. Now I'm not sure if its actually colors because I don't know what the sensor reads as color.

Biomimetic comes from the term biomimcry which is the examination of nature and its systems.

Since my CO detector is nearing the end of its life I might pull it apart to see what this disk looks like.

SheepDog68 · Post by **SheepDog68** » Wed. Aug. 11, 2010 6:55 pm

Thanks to this thread for the reminder I have a new CO detector happily keeping an eye on my place!! I will probably add a second one in time for the winter season just to make sure!!

SD

2001Sierra · Post by **2001Sierra** » Wed. Aug. 11, 2010 11:20 pm

My latest CO detector has a 7 year life span. After 7 years it goes into a "mode" that requires you to replace the whole unit. Kidde is the manufacturer.

murphyslaw · Post by **murphyslaw** » Thu. Aug. 12, 2010 1:25 am

I have several CO/smoke detectors. As well as a few CO detectors. When in doubt I walk threw the house with this.. http://www.pksafety.com/qrae-ii-gas-detector.html. All I have to do is grab it out of my truck. When ever I light a stove, refire a furnace or anything I turn it on. and watch it for a few hours. As well as walk around with it.

Yanche · Post by **Yanche** » Thu. Aug. 12, 2010 8:51 am

murphyslaw wrote:I have several CO/smoke detectors. As well as a few CO detectors. When in doubt I walk threw the house with this.. http://www.pksafety.com/qrae-ii-gas-detector.html. All I have to do is grab it out of my truck. When ever I light a stove, refire a furnace or anything I turn it on. and watch it for a few hours. As well as walk around with it.

Sure is a nice looking CO meter. How often do you calibrate it? How expensive and available are the calibration gases?

murphyslaw · Post by **murphyslaw** » Thu. Aug. 12, 2010 4:35 pm

I don't calibrate it. The dept has people for that. They just grab it out of my truck now and then and put a new sticker on it.

I'm On Fire · Post by **I'm On Fire** » Fri. Dec. 03, 2010 5:29 pm

I just installed two new 110v co/smoke detectors. Wired them to my generator circuit too.

Although, I'm not sure if where I put them they are going to work properly or not. My ceilings are weird and I have them pretty much above some ceiling fans.

I'm in the fire protection field so I did reference NFPA to install them, they are within code as far as clearances but I just don't like where they are.

Adamiscold · Post by **Adamiscold** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2010 1:18 pm

I have my wired Silhouette Low-Profile Carbon Monoxide Alarms mounted on the wall about eye level. They are wired in with my smoke detectors where one goes off they all go off, very loud.

I'm On Fire · Post by **I'm On Fire** » Mon. Dec. 06, 2010 2:07 pm

Yeah, I was going to mount mine on the wall too but to get teh wire run down the wall would not have been fun so I just put them on teh ceiling.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Oct. 20, 2013 11:40 am

With my new stoker install, I got a bunch of new Carbon Monoxide/Smoke detectors. Sprinkled them throughout the house and basement. I got 2 First Alert brand detectors that wirelessly link to one another. If the one in the boiler/furnace room alerts, the other one in the master bedroom alarms as well. The boiler/furnace room is in the basement at the opposite end of the house from the master bedroom. I thought this was a good idea,.....just incase. I picked them up at Lowe's

Post by **Lightning** » Sun. Oct. 20, 2013 11:51 am

How much were they? Could you post a picture and model number please?

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Oct. 20, 2013 11:57 am

Heres a link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_429037-347-SCO501CN_42946 ... facetInfo=

Legendsingray · Post by **Legendsingray** » Mon. Nov. 03, 2014 7:20 pm

I'm on my second Firehawk CO detector. First one hit 7 yrs & 1 day started going off with ERR on display. Called Firehawk, they explained it's built in to not allow function after 7 years. So I spent the $50 and bought another one just like it.

My next one I may purchase through my alarm company. I've got two of their smoke detectors and it's nice to know someone else is watching.

Nothing like an embarrassing call from alarm company when you burn something in the kitchen!

nealkas · Post by **nealkas** » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 4:20 pm

Figure too the companies have no control over environmental conditions of your house.
Dust, smoke, pet hair, humidity, and things simply wear out.

So they hedge their bets and say 7 years.

I think Kidde has a sealed battery unit that alarms after 10 years for replacement.

Now you don't have to replace one every time somebody burns a bag of popcorn.
But there are opinions if a unit is ever heavily contaminated, say a bad grease fire, it should be replaced.

404 · Post by **404** » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 6:28 pm

Tested my CO detector today with the exhaust of my snow blower. Read 384. Is that good?

Regards,
404