Real Estate Blog - Colorado homes safer because of New Law

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Colorado homes safer because of New Law

Carbon Monoxide Bill Signed into Law

carbon monoxide detector Governor Ritter signed HB 1091 into law earlier this week. The new law covers:

all new residential construction

existing single-family and

multi-family housing units offered for sale, transfer or rent.

Beginning July 1, 2009, a seller of residential real property that has a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a

fireplace, or an attached garage will be responsible for assuring that a carbon monoxide alarm is properly

installed within 15 feet of the entrance to each bedroom.

An owner of rental property must install the carbon monoxide alarms, according to the bill when there is a

change in rental occupancy on or after July 1, 2009

Please refer to the Bill for more detailed and complete information! Stay warm & be safe!

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mary Douglas, your Mountain REALTOR ®, United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, CO

800-531-2195

"A Day in the Mountains will always soothe your city soul"

The information contained in Mary's blog is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed, and the opinions and views expressed in these articles are solely those of the author.

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Posted by Mary Douglas, REALTOR ®, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado on 03/28/2009 02:33 PM

Comments (17)

new colorado carbon monoxide detector law, carbon monoxide safety

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17 Comments on Colorado homes safer because of New Law

MAR

Mary, this is some added protection for sure in addition to smoke alarms. More people should act to prevent this deadly odorless gas from spreading in their homes. Thanks for the notification of the law...

Excellent. Good law. We have that standard here in NJ too. Carbon Monoxide detectors must be installed or we wont get issued the CO by the town to close.

Good job Colorado ! ... and good reminder for your local peeps Mary !

Hi Mary: I suppose all these laws are good! Without seeming insensitive, I haven't seen any numbers of deaths due to carbon mononixde poisoning in homes. I'm thinking it must be pretty small, not that even saving one life isn't important. I just think we have toooooo many laws, that's all!

Mary, I think it's as important as smoke detectors. This a good law. Many are not, but this one is.

Gail, very recently an entire family of four died in, I think it was Vail. They rented a home for a ski vacation, the parents and two children. Every winter here we get news reports of people lost to CM poisoning. The detectors are not expensive, and like smoke detectors, will save lives.

Hi Gary, Thanks for your comments, today. It's such a simple thing to do - I hope everyone buys them, even if they are not a seller or landlord...

Hi Sheldon, Yes, this law is a good one! I'm glad to hear that is the same in your state. Thanks, Sheldon.

Hi Gail, often I wonder about too many laws, however this one is good. Unfortunately we have had too many deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning, most recently the remaining family members of the family that Debi wrote about pushed for this new legislation.

Hi Debi, I agree they are important and will save lives. It's a shame that that happened to anyone.

Timely topic Mary - I had a buyer yesterday who told me she would not ever live in a house that used fossil fuels - she almost died from CM poisoning. She had alarms but they failed as do smoke detectors if not checked.

MAR

Hi Susan, Good reminder, about checking them! They do no good if they aren't checked and don't have fresh battery backup! How frightening for your buyer! Nice to see you again, Susan, thanks for your comments last night.

Hi Mary, We have these in our home and this is a great reminder to get them checked.

Hi Shirley! I agree - I need to check mine, too. Just having them there may be providing a false sense of security:-)

Mary - that is an important law - and thanks for sharing this information. It is a good reminder to check them on a regular basis.

Hi Sharon, Thanks for your input, my detector says check weekly...do I do that? No. does anyone?

Me again.....is it something with furnaces that causes CM poisoning in cold climates. It's not something I hear much about in Central Florida....and always wanting to learn, please let me know.

Hi Gail, I'm really no expert on this subject--- but carbon monoxide is caused by burning organic substances like, natural gas, propane, cigarettes, wood in fireplaces and wood stoves.....etc. and carbon monoxide poisoning is the result of poor ventilation or inadequate ventilation of this deadly, ordorless gas...

This is this best answer I have stricly from a very limited education on the subject.

I'm guessing you are right that there would be a higher risk in cold climates where the furnaces are working and the windows are closed? but it can occur anywhere, like running the car in an enclosed garage, or in a boat with the gasoline powered engine.....

MAR

Thanks Mary, this makes sense. I'm off to a home inspection, catch you later and wishing you a wonderful week :-)

Hey Gail! Good luck on your inspection! You have a wonderful week, also!

Hey Miss Mary, Great new law to protect homeowners and tenants. Excellent idea, especially in the cold states.

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