mschuster91 t1_j5kmg3l wrote
Reply to comment by Gryllan in Old disgusting bathroom gets a makeover (reupload) by Gryllan
Please, get a carbon monoxide alarm. CO sinks to the lowest place in a house, which in your case is the basement.
CO doesn't smell and you often don't notice what is going on before it is way too late.
And never operate the fan at the same time the oven is running, the fan will suck the smoke into the bathroom.
I-Camel t1_j5kwg2a wrote
There’s a myth that carbon monoxide alarms should be installed lower on the wall because carbon monoxide is heavier than air. In fact, carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and diffuses evenly throughout the room.
According to the carbon monoxide guidelines of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 720, 2005 edition), all carbon monoxide alarms “shall be centrally located outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms,” and each alarm “shall be located on the wall, ceiling or other location as specified in the installation instructions that accompany the unit.”
Why CO alarms are often installed near the floor:
Standalone carbon monoxide alarms are often placed low on the wall because they need to be plugged into an outlet that’s near the floor. CO alarms can also have a screen that shows the CO level and needs to be at a height where it’s easy to read.
sophiebophieboo t1_j5kuqxu wrote
Isn’t it a myth that CO sinks? People think it’s heavier than air, but it’s lighter by mass. Is there some other reason it would sink?
donkeyrocket t1_j5lc7h9 wrote
Definitely an often mentioned thing. The concern with CO is that it disperses evenly everywhere. So it doesn't really sink or rise just mixes.
Always grew up hearing that the detectors need to be low along the wall when it is actually recommended to be mid-wall or slightly below eye level. They'll really be effective placed anywhere in a room.
Not sure why it is perpetuated. I imagine the fact that outlets are lower to the floor and typically where a plug-in style would go reinforces this belief.
sophiebophieboo t1_j5ldckh wrote
I got battery powered CO detectors so I could put them at eye level without running wires down walls. I guessed that maybe they were supposed to be at eye level because CO hovered at a certain level based on relative humidity in the room but it’s probably just that it’s where people are likely to breathe it in, yeah?… if it all just mixes.
motorhead84 t1_j5n5mk9 wrote
CO2 is heavier than air--maybe that's where the misconception comes from.
sophiebophieboo t1_j5nfvrt wrote
Ah! That’s a good theory
Gryllan OP t1_j5knq8j wrote
Gotcha. A collegue also suggested this, but for our fireplace next to the bedroom. The fan will suck smoke? The smoke goes out the chimney, the fans i have are - one blowing in air from living room above - and one blowing out outdoors
QW1Q t1_j5ks3u6 wrote
Yeah, he’s saying don’t run the bathroom exhaust fan while you have a fire burning. The reason is that the chimney is just exhausting air via convection, and if you turn the exhaust fan on, it will suck the smoke into your living space instead of allowing it to go out the chimney. Tbh though, real world, if the chimney isn’t flowing, you’ll notice all the smoke and smoke smell in the room.
Gryllan OP t1_j5kt5o2 wrote
Aah, that the fan sucks so much air that it sucks it out of the chimney. But no, the airflow up the chimney when its burning is much more than this pax-fan. Thats no problem. Yeah, if a bird ever nests in there, ill notice it pretty quick haha
mschuster91 t1_j5ktq3a wrote
You need one CO alarm for each room with a combustion-based heater.
As for the fans: the one blowing in air is no problem at all, but the one blowing towards outdoors is. Even if it doesn't draw in visible smoke from the oven, it still may draw in CO.
Don't mess with CO. It's incredibly deadly and it is a regular occurrence that people die because something broke somewhere.
Gryllan OP t1_j5kvjwh wrote
Gotcha. Ill definitly buy one for safety. Thanks for commenting!
[deleted] t1_j5kofhz wrote
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herrbz t1_j5m7zi9 wrote
Is it not illegal to get a fireplace installed without a carbon monoxide alarm?
mschuster91 t1_j5nt6dx wrote
In Germany they are not required, only smoke alarms are.
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