Great post on a serious subject. I had a CO detector in my garage in my old house where I brewed and will be getting one for the new house's garage, too. I spent one holiday season working part time for First Alert, helping out with answering their help line. That's their busiest time of year. I learned a thing or two in my short time there.
IIRC, the sensors in CO detectors depleted by use. Can you confirm or deny?
If so, a CO unit might last a lifetime in a house, but need to be replaced much sooner in a higher-CO environment like a brewery.
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I'm in the heating trade and deal with co on a weekly basis, knighthawk detectors are the best store bought detector, the first alerts false trip and then people don't listen to them when the have a real problem. also get the model that gives you a reading and that plugs in, if your power goes out you will not be brewing.
Nick
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A firend and his family nearly died of CO poisoning a couple of years ago. Fate brought his son home frome work in time to drag them outside before it was too late. Luckily none of them went unconcious, but they were very incoherent and def would not have thought about CO poisoning in time to save themselves.
I'm thinking about setting up a All Grain rig, and I was going to do propane outside like most. But, I was wondering if I did it in the basement which is where all my brewing equipment and storage and everything is, could I do it with natural gas? Just like a stove, but use the jet burners and everything like propane set up. Would I have to worry about fumes and Carbon Poisoning ?
Yes, I would think so. Any time you have incomplete combustion or inadequate ventilation, you have a risk of co. The key would be to make sure the burners are efficient, and to have appropriate ventilation at all times.
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One thing to note: one of the first signs of CO poisoning is a nasty, nasty headache.
Sometimes, but not always. I've experienced CO before that caused a headache, but this last time it presented as lightheaded/dizzy. Symptoms appear to be related to source and amount of CO in the air.
I brew in my basement and have a co monitor right by my brew area; however, I don't have the best ventilation down there.
I'm going to get something going before my next brew after reading this thread.
I'm definitely going to look into putting in a vent hood in my brewery in the new house.
Aren't CO monitors required by code now (at least near bedrooms)? From what I understand you don't want them too close to a ignition source or else they may false alarm too soon.
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