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If the residence or facility has been temporarily vacant and you return to find the
monitor(s) sounding, do not enter the building. Call the Fire Department from
another location.
Do not re-enter the building for any reason until you have been
assured that it is safe to do so.
Conditions which can result in transient CO situations:
1) Excessive spillage, venting malfunctions, or reverse venting of fuel burning
appliances caused by outdoor ambient conditions, such as:
i) Wind direction and/or velocity, including high gusts of wind. Heavy air in
the vent pipes (cold/humid air with extended periods between cycles).
ii) Negative pressure differential resulting from the use of exhaust fans.
iii) Simultaneous operation of several fuel burning appliances competing for
limited internal air.
iv) Vent pipe connections vibrating loose from clothes dryers, furnaces, or
water heaters.
v) Obstructions in or unconventional vent pipe designs which can amplify
the above situations.
vi) Poorly designed or maintained chimneys and/or vents.
2) Extended operation of unvented fuel burning devices
(range, oven, etc.).
3) Temperature inversions which can trap exhaust gases near the ground.
4) Car idling in an open or closed attached garage, or near the building.
If SERVICE or low battery signals are activated, see Section 13 for service and
return instructions.
11. LIMITATIONS OF CARBON MONOXIDE MONITORS
Carbon monoxide monitors respond to the presence of CO. They do not detect smoke.
If the alarm does activate, follow instructions in Section 10
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE
ALARM SOUNDS
.
Carbon monoxide monitors are devices that can provide an early warning of the
presence of CO gas at a reasonable cost. However, monitors have sensing limitations
and may not always sound a warning in the presence of CO. The monitor will not
operate if the battery power is low or dead. CO monitors must be tested regularly to
ensure that they are receiving power and operating properly. Carbon monoxide
monitors cannot sense CO that does not reach the monitor, and therefore CO monitors
may not detect CO which is in another area of the residence or facility. Furthermore, if
the monitor is located on a different level of the building, or on the other side of a closed
door, it may not waken a sound sleeper. The use of drugs and alcohol may impair ones
ability to hear the alarm. If you have a multi-level building, install CO monitors on each
level of the residence or facility. If the monitor is installed in a hallway and the bedroom
doors are kept closed at night, also install a CO monitor within each bedroom.
Although CO monitors can help save lives by providing an early warning to the
presence of carbon monoxide, they are not a substitute for an insurance policy.
Property owners, leaseholders and renters should have adequate insurance to protect
everyone’s health, lives and property.
