Are Co2 Detectors Required?
A carbon monoxide detector or CO2 detector is a device that detects the presence of deadly carbon monoxide gas. The odorless gas can leak into a home from a malfunctioning furnace or from a blocked exhaust vent. CO2 detectors look and operate like smoke detectors. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Purpose
-
Any home with a device that burns fossil fuels should have a CO2 detector. This includes the use of gas, oil or propane furnaces, a fireplace or a wood stove.
Varying Requirements
-
Laws requiring the installation of CO2 detectors are becoming more commonplace. You should check with your local government to see what the laws are in your area. Some states such as New York and Washington have statewide laws requiring CO2 detectors in all homes. In other states, certain counties and municipalities require CO2 detectors or the detectors are only required for certain dwellings.
-
State Laws
-
At this time the states in which one or more municipality has a CO2 law are: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. New laws continue to be passed, however, so property owners should check to see what the requirements are in their areas.
CO2 Detectors and Smoke Detectors
-
While a CO2 detector may look similar to a smoke detector, it does not have the same function. A CO2 detector should never be installed in place of a smoke detector. In addition to changing batteries regularly, most CO2 detectors need to be replaced every five years.
-
