Carbon monoxide, the silent killer. Do you have a CO detector in your Spokane WA home?

Carbon monoxide, the silent killer.  Do you have a CO detector in your Spokane WA home?

The chemical symbol  for carbon monoxide is CO.

The chemical nickname is "silent killer" and it is odorless, colorless and tasteless.

A CO detector is an alert system (similar but different from a smoke alarm) which warns you about the presence of carbon monoxide should it reach a dangerous level.    Don't confuse smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms -- they warn you of different dangers with audible alerts.  One isn't better than the other and they don't overlap in terms of performance.  Every home should have both. There are combination models, but you should be aware that CO gas travels low on the floor, and smoke alarms should be placed on the ceiling.

In Washington state as of January 1, 2013, alarms are required in existing apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels,  and single family residences, with some exceptions.   An exception may be:   Owner occupied single family residences before July 26, 2009, are not required to have carbon monoside alarms until the home is sold. 

Homes that use fossil fuels for any reason -- heating, cooking (stoves and barbecues)  fireplaces, hot water tanks etc. should have carbon monoxide alarms installed.  Your representative in a real estate transaction -  your real estate agent, your bank/lender, or landlord, should be cognizant of important safety guidelines.  Washington state guidelines may be similar to those in California and Oregon but every jurisdiction has its own rules.

The Spokane Regional Health District recently posted a carbon monoxide advisory explaining what to do during power outages and it is well worth reading. 

In Washington, CO detectors are required to be installed in new residences.  Many states are requiring the devices to be installed before the completion of a sale or funding of a loan.  Going forward (because it is difficult to regulate compliance since the new guidelines have come into effect) the "point of sale" and the appraisal are good opportunities to note their presence or absence in the property. 

For your convenience, and because it is such an important safety concern, I have noted a few sites for Washington residents to reference. 

https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/SBCC/Page.aspx?cid=976

http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Contaminants/CarbonMonoxide.aspx

http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/development_services/HowToGuides/BPG173.pdf

I personally wouldn't wait until required, I would install them today. 

CO detectors are sold at Spokane home improvement stores such as Lowes and Home Depot and other stores such as Costco and Sears.  If you think you don't need one immediately, you could shop online.  I always recommend Consumer Reports as a good source for information.  If you don't know a thing about them, it is a good place to learn, compare and see the models they test.   Newer versions may have digital readouts so you have a visual cue about the status of carbon monoxide in your home.

BUT PLEASE DON'T WAIT.... INSTALL A CARBON DIOXIDE ALARM IN YOUR HOME TODAY!  Be a good neighbor and remind those around you of the importance of CO detectors and smoke alarms.  "The life you save may be your own!"

Carbon monoxide, the silent killer.  Do you have a CO detector in your Spokane, Washington home? 

 If you are hoping to buy or refinance a home in Spokane, Spokane County, or elsewhere in southwestern Washington, I will put my 23 years of mortgage experience to work on your behalf.  I can easily be reached at 509-623-1623.