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#1 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Posts: 172
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Last week, my buddy and I experienced a pretty severe episode of CO poisoning while brewing in the garage. I became very light-headed, and he nearly lost conciseness.
Yesterday we brought along an OSHA-type CO monitoring device, and were able to determine the source was the hot liquor tank burner. Combination of dirty/corroded burner and burner placed too close to the bottom of the HLT nearly "snuffing" the burner flame were causing incomplete propane combustion and massive amounts of CO. Lucky that we were familiar with the signs and symptoms of CO exposure, and could measure levels accurately to pinpoint a source. Levels returned to normal following a burner cleaning and burner repositioning. Keep those burners clean and watch out for incomplete combustion. Pay attention to proper ventilation. We're going to have a full-time monitor in our garage for CO from here on out.
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Mackinac Brewing Company A division of K&K Brewing, Ltd. Primary: Primary: Secondary 1: Secondary 2: Tap #1: Air Tap #2: Air Tap #3: Air Tap #4: Air On deck: Constructing new brewing system. My home away from home. Last edited by drayman86 : 03-24-2008 at 11:57 AM. |
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#2 (permalink) |
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Vaguely On Hiatus-ish
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Good warning, thanks for posting this - I'm glad you and your friend made it through alive to tell the story!
Be safe, all!
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For each airlock bubble you count, I will shiv you. Bubbles are not for counting.
Sane Man Alehouse || http://www.DamnYourEyes.net || SMaSH Brewers, Unite! || Nebraska Brewers! || Beards Rock! "You have just experienced the paradigm shift that is....all grain brewing." - BierMuncher || StarSan: "Couple squirts and the nasties are toast." - Revvy Dec '08: Vaguely on Hiatus-ish. Holidays + Secret Santa + a couple other swaps have taken the wind out of my sails, I'm recovering a bit. |
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#3 (permalink) |
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Drink it up!
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Indeed. CO poisoning can be very dangerous, and it can take a long time for its effects to wane.
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Primary: Amber Secondary: On tap:Maibock Smoked Porter Farmhouse Ale Lagering:Kolsch http://www.lazydogbrewery.com |
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#4 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 251
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Glad to hear you two are ok. I hope you went to the hospital to get checked out. After an exposure that almost made you lose consciousness it is a good idea to have the blood, etc checked, as those were probably some pretty high levels.
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#5 (permalink) | |
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Senior Member
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Quote:
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Cheers, Rich |
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#6 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,961
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props to you for posting this. it can be a real problem when people don't think about CO poisoning when brewing in confined spaces.
I'm very glad you and your buddy were aware of the potential and recognized the early symptoms, since CO poisoning is such a rapid progression to unconsciousness. And I definitely agree, the $20 CO monitor is worth it for garage/basement brewers. I know BierMuncher brews in his basement, with a vent fan running and a CO monitor nearby.
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primary - secondary - on tap - N. English Brown Ale, Raspberry Melomel, American Pilsner (first lager!) bottled - Porter, Wit, Apfelwein, MOAM, Raspberry Melomel, Irish Red Braggot keg aging - Irish Red Ale empty kegs - 1 planned: Kolsch, Fruit beer annual gallons: 2007=53 2008=28 - - - $10 fermenter cooler - Put a chalkboard on your keg! |
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#7 (permalink) | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Montréal, Québec (Canada)
Posts: 468
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Quote:
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Primary: Secondary: Cidre de Pomme, West Coast IPA x 2 Bottle conditioning: Pepernoten Ale Drinking: Ed's Apfelwein (Sparkling), Brown Ale, Pilsner (Urquell Clone), (Raspberry) Wheat, Cooper's Pilsner, Oatmeal Stout, Canadian Blonde, Hard Lemonade, Pale Ale Keg conditioning: Apfelwein On tap: Hefeweizen, Weihnachten Apfelwein Planning: Going to AG Brewed in 2009: 0 batches (24 total) Wine made in 2009: 2 kits (30 total) |
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#9 (permalink) | |
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...My Junk is Ugly...
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It must work cuz I saw my neighbor last night and he said he can smell the coooking wort all the way in his kitchen when I'm brewing. ![]()
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******* Check Out My Rolling Kegerator BierMuncher Tried & Trues: Sterling Gold (3.2%), Kona Pale Ale, Outer Limits IPA, Centennial Blonde (4.0%), Nierra Sevada (SNPA), SWMBO Slayer Belgian Blonde, Blue Balls Belgian (Blue Moon) |
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#10 (permalink) | |
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Play Ball!
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Agreed. And CO poisoning can happen in the house, too. Or anywhere there is a heat source that uses combustibles. One thing to note: one of the first signs of CO poisoning is a nasty, nasty headache.
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Quote:
"Why don't we get drunk and screw?" Jimmy Buffett |
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