We moved into a new(er) house a few months ago and as I go through checking things out more I started researching co2 detectors as ours is in the basement. I'm finding some information that says they should be in the hallway outside the bedrooms and other sources says one on each floor like the smoke detectors. I'm wondering where is the best place?
We have a 4 level split house and there are smoke detectors in each level and they are hardwired to a dedicated circuit with 9v batter backup. I was thinking of getting a hardwired co2 detector and adding to that circuit then put a UPS after the breaker so were not relying on 9v batteries ( though I do change them). I also noticed when we set one off while cooking it sounded like all 4 went off. I'm wondering if they transmit a signal across the electric line like the x10 stuff. If I should have more than one co2 detector are there ones I can buy that are hard wired, or possibly a combines co2/smoke detector to replace the existing? Are there ones out there that can set all off is one goes off?

Considering everything that we've ever had from walmart had to be replaced by something decent I don't want to throw away $20 times however I need. My mother bought us a sheet set from walmart and we made the mistake of washing before we used it so now we'll not get to use it since the stitching came apart. I'm not going to trust any co2 detector from walmart.

"fat kid on a cake", that's quite a rude comment. I posted here since there are a lot of firefighters EMT on who might know the right place to put one and how many, if you just want to put down "fat" people then I'm sure there are proper forums for that.

I assume we are talking Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors. I think there are codes regarding placement of CO detectors in the NFPA. If you have any questions, you could also contact an alarm company that is Lffe/Safety licensed. For the most part, there needs to be one for each "sleeping compartment". Think about NG or LP detectors if that applies also.

Funny this topic came up. I just got a bunch of detectors from Home Depot last time I was there.

They have these really nice ones (which I didn't have the money for) that are inter-connected "wireless" so if alarm A goes off in your basement it sets off all the other alarms to alert you sooner VERY COOL idea but for $30/each a little more than my budget allowed.

In terms of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors I`m a firm believer of one in every room. And your hallway and shared room/great room. (I don't have any plans to put any in the bathrooms right now).

I also suggest battery powered

Err, yes, co2 could be carbon dioxide wouldn't it.
http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?cat...rbon%20monoxide gives a brief description doesn't it.

All the alarm companies around here are just installers for companies like ADT and such. We had one in the old house but between the false alarms from not being installed properly and them not being able to tell me how they can make the police respond any differently than when I call them myself we ended up turning it off, was
$35 a month for nothing.

I like the idea of battery powered too, but when you start having several its a lot of batteries, just like now having to change 4 9v batteries every 6 months. I want to wire everything together with one battery in one place to power them all.

This would be easy if you have access to them via the attic. For people who just want hard wired (non-battery) think about them not-working when the power goes out... or at least buying the ones that take hard wire + a back-up battery.

I believe the ones I got say the battery should last 5 years. I know the yhad some closed units with lithium batts that sthey say last 10.

Yes definitely pay attention to the Code requirements for locations. I will probably suggest that at least be located outside your furnace room, on the lower levels and main floor, anywhere where you have a sleeping room. CO2 is heavier than air so will settle in the lower levels first. Being interconnected and tied to an electrical circuit with your smoke detectors would be ideal. Time and time again, fire departments go into houses after the fact and realize that some people have either not replaced the batteries or took them out because it beeps too much! Fire chiefs around the world lament because they come into contact with the dead people from all these "accidents".

Especially this time of the year - Christmas is the worst time of the year for residential deaths due to a fire or malfunctioning heating appliance. Locally, we've had several people die in a few fires this festive season - all of the deaths were unnecessary.

Even though my house is all-electric, I got a battery powered CO detector to keep with my emergency portable gas generator.

Jeff

My total experience with them is in RV's. Our Class A motorhome had one right where the "hall" from the living area to the bath/bedroom began. In the fifthwheel, right at the base of the stairs up to the bath/bedroom...

When we moved into our new home in '07, it came with three CO2 detectors (1) on every level of the house they are all hardwired w/battery back up and they are also smoke detector combos, we have smoke detectors in each of the three bedrooms.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) has approximately the same vapor density as room air, meaning that it will hang around at the vertical mid point of a given space. The CO detector should ideally be installed at the four foot level, assuming the ceiling height is eight feet. If you only have one detector, I would put it in close proximity to the bedrooms. If your residence is multilevel, I'd put one on each level. Additionally, keep in mind that the CO sensors are usually good for only about 18 months. If the detector is located in an area where it would receive above average amounts of CO, such as garages, fire place or wood burning stove areas, etc. the sensor lifespan could be shorter. Check the manufacturers information for additional details and specific mounting requirements.

CO tends to disperse quite evenly through a building so you really needn't have more than one per floor and/or group of bedrooms. The biggest concern is to avoid dead zones where air stagnates. Keep CO and, smoke detectors for that matter, at least 12" away from inside corners, doors and away from areas likely to be covered by drapes, furniture and from behind doors that might block air flow.

Around here CO detectors get mounted about knee height and typically in the hall and outside bedrooms as this keeps them out of the way and out of sight lines. It also limits the tendency of people to put furniture in front of them. But as long as you keep a decent distance away from dead zones height is not critical.

CO poisoning is usually a slower process compared to fire and, because of its tendency to mix and spread, usually large areas of the house are effected. Which means that unless there is a potential source of CO within a bedroom, perhaps a small gas heater, then it really doesn't make sense to have one in each bedroom.

As long there is good coverage more CO detectors are not necessarily better. Not if buying more means you buy cheaper ones. And not if after ten years or so, when the CO and smoke detectors need replacement, you put off replacing them.

CO.
Not C02

CO = Carbon Monoxide, a deadly byproduct of combustion.
C02 = Carbon Dioxide, the stuff in soda that makes you burp.

Drives me batty when those are mixed up.

I have 3x CO detectors. We also have hard-wired smoke detectors.

1 in the master bedroom hallway (all bedrooms connect to this hallway)
1 in the basement (we have a wood stove, need to know ASAP if there's a problem there)
1 in the kitchen/dining area (we have a fireplace, that area needs coverage).

A few years ago we had ALL THREE of them go off at once when we got home on a cold night after a few days away, and lit fires in the wood stove & fireplace at the same time. The oil burner kicked on just as the fires were being lit. The slight negative pressure in the house caused by the oil-burner coupled with very cold-pipe chimney caused a momentary reversal of the draft and pulled CO into the house. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP - scared the crap out of me, as at the time I had no idea what the hell was going on, there was no odor at all.

CO = binds in the same place on hemoglobin as 02 (oxygen ). This is bad.
CO2 = binds in a different place on hemoglobin than 02 (oxygen). Not bad.

Hmm... maybe jogging alongside the road isn't such a great idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobin

I'm a Code Enforcement/Housing Inspector for the largest city in VT. We deal with this all the time. Many of the new building/electrical codes require the installation of hardwired smoke detectors in new construction or at the time of sale. Depends on the area you are located in and whether or not your local government has adopted the newest building or electrical code.
Sounds like your detectors are interconnected. That's a good thing. You want the detectors in your bedroom to go off at the same time as the one in the same location as the fire. Conversely if the CO detector in the basement goes off it will activate the other CO detectors in the house. Giving you time to get you and your family out. You can purchase combonation smoke and CO detectors. They cost about 75 bucks. Put one in the hallway outside your bedrooms, and one on each level of your home. The one outside your bedrooms counts as that level. Make sure that the electrician you hire to do this follows the instructions. There may be a minimum distance that the detectors need to be located from fuel burning appliances. Ceiling location is usually fine as the gas is very similar to air and warm air rises. If you are still concerened then by all means use a plug in type of co detector. Check to see if the detectors are UL 2034 listed and approved. Good luck, seems your are certainly on the right track
Matt