CO2 and smoke detector

[MaryAnn]

Does the CO2 detector have to be in same room as woodstove? I already have smoke and Co2 detector in my house. Also, if I put a smoke detector in that room, will it go off just from heat from woodstove? I had to take the one out of kitchen because it went off everytime I used oven, small kitchen.

 

[AKFireMan]

Every place has diffrent variations of fire and safety codes, where I live you do not "have" to have one in the same room as the wood stove. You are only required to have one on every floor in occupied living spaces (daylight basement, 1st floor, 2nd, etc.). However, for piece of mind I have one installed in the same room as my stove ( living room, combination smoke and corbon monoxide), like the old saying.......ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

As far as the smoke detector goes the main reason decectors activate is wrong placement. Smoke detectors don't belong in the kitchen, they make other detectoin devices for use there. The heat of the stove does not make a smoke detecor go off. The detectors work in one of two ways one is "ionized", basically the smoke completes an electrical circuit and activates. The other has a light beam and if smoke intgerupts the beam (or steam) it will activate. Remember if you do have on near the stove don't get it too close as some smoke may leak into room when loading or stoking and set off alarm.

 

[Chuck Pearson]

You probably have a CO (Carbon Monoxide) detector. CO2 is the gas that comes out of your lungs when you breath.

 

[elkimmeg]

gone

 

[Rick]

Another required location is attached garages, especially important is garages under living spaces. The number #1 source for Carbon Monoxide entering your home.

Great point, many people will let their cars warm up in their garages with the door open. Often, the wind will blow the exhaust back into the garage, and into the home. Fortunately, it is usually just for a few minutes, but it is still better to be safe and back out of the garage first.

Rick

 

[Homefire]

Frozennorth gave good advice: First of all the smoke detector should not be in you kitchen If you feel the need of one
there, you need a photo electric one. Your ion one is too sensitive to oven smoke and in too close proximity to cooking.

Carbon monoxide detectors, Per our code. one must be in the room of the appliance ( but not next to it causing false
alarms every time you reload the stove) One recomentadion is 12 ft away or more. Not code but common sense,
if people fall asleep on a couch, might be a good idear to have some decection there. Other locations required are
placements outside the sleeping quarters. Carbon Monoxide is heavier than air and its consentrations gather at
lower levels. Ceiling locations are not optium but rather on a wall about 4'6"" to 5" 6" Another required location is
attached garages, especially important is garages under living spaces. The number #1 source for Carbon Monoxide
entering your home. I know someone will point out, the combination smoke & Monoxide sensors are mounted on
the ceilings. Better there than none at all

Please remember this is the internet and to take advice from people you don't know can be very harmful to your health.
C/O IS NOT HEAVIER THAN AIR THAT IS WHY A BAD FURNACE IN YOUR BASEMENT COULD KILL YOU!

Please check out any of the c/o detector sites for the real deal on c/o detectors and smoke detectors.

 

[elkimmeg]

gone

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

this is a touchy subject, but, if your smoke dectetor is going off then you have a stove that drafting properly. You should never have smoke coming out of your stove. I always recomend a carbon monoxide detector in any romm a wood, pellet, or gas appliance is installed, its the local code that vent free must have one installed.

 

[Hokerer]

C/O IS NOT HEAVIER THAN AIR THAT IS WHY A BAD FURNACE IN YOUR BASEMENT COULD KILL YOU!

Air is 1/4 oxygen O2, (weight 16) and mainly nitrogen N2 (weight 14).

CO is weight 12+8 = 20, so heavier than "air"

Guys! Can't we just stop the arguing and call it a draw? Rather than anectdotal statements and terms like "mainly", how 'bout we try some real honest to goodness science.

The density of dry air at normal atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg) at 15 degrees C is 1.202 kg/cubic meter

The density of Carbon Monoxide at normal atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg) at 15 degrees C is 1.184 kg/cubic meter

For all intents and purposes you can call them equal (hence the draw). Yes, technically, CO is ever so slightly lighter but, with mixing, air currents, etc. neither is going to end up on the top nor bottom.

By the way, for comparison sake, everyone is correct when they say that Carbon Dioxide is heavier...

The density of Carbon Dioxide at normal atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg) at 15 degrees C is 1.521 kg/cubic meter

...that's enough of a difference to be worth talking about.

 

[AKFireMan]

How about this for a solution installing a CO dector........You could put one up high or you could put one down low, not too close - not too far. The main thing here is just having something to let you know if there is a problem so you or your family don't get hurt. Sounds like there a lot of "really" technically knowlegable folks on this board with lots of valuable insight. However, I think the question MaryAnn asked was "Are CO detectors required to be in the same room as the stove?" REQUIRED Maybe yes or maybe no but having one just makes good sense. If you have questions or are not comfortable with installing one contact your local fire department as most have programs where they will come and install one for you.

 

[cbrodsky]

Please remember this is the internet and to take advice from people you don’t know can be very harmful to your health.
C/O IS NOT HEAVIER THAN AIR

Homefire is living proof of his own statement.

Air is 1/4 oxygen O2, (weight 16) and mainly nitrogen N2 (weight 14).

CO is weight 12+8 = 20, so heavier than "air"

(broken link removed)

Actually, an O2 molecule has an atomic weight of 16x2 = 32. Similarly, N2 has an atomic weight of 14x2 = 28. So, CO technically could be considered a "lighter" molecule than a blend of O2 and N2.

However, molecular diffusion is a very powerful force to overcome the density differences - the reality is that it is very difficult to have much of concentration gradient in a static undisturbed gas when the properties are so similar.

 

[elkimmeg]

gone

 

[Homefire]

Please remember this is the internet and to take advice from people you don’t know can be very harmful to your health.
C/O IS NOT HEAVIER THAN AIR

Homefire is living proof of his own statement.

Air is 1/4 oxygen O2, (weight 16) and mainly nitrogen N2 (weight 14).

CO is weight 12+8 = 20, so heavier than "air"

(broken link removed)

Wow! Hit a nerve with you or what? Wasn't trying to show you up , so don't take it that way.

I stand by what I said. Do your own research and be safe. please

 

[elkimmeg]

gone