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neb
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2020 11:04am
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I would imagine everyone has Carbon Monoxide Detector in your cabin. I don't but I don't live full time or spend over nights when I have to use my wood stove.
I am thinking about installing one even though I don't spend over night stays but only day trips etc..
With a small 10 x16 cabin one room if I install it on the farthest point from stove would that work? Installing it to close to a stove or appliance can create false alarms.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2020 11:35am
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Lots of good info on the web and likely in the instruction manual for the detector. Generally most sites are fairly flexible about where to install for a number of reasons. CO is not much different in weight than air so will distribute throughout the area (often suggested that it be installed about 5' from the floor but also ceiling etc). Also, standard detectors work by alarming only after a period of time exposed to a reading - this period of time is shorter for higher exposures. Quote from the link at the end: "For example, the alarm will respond to concentrations of about 70 ppm in as little as an hour but will respond to concentrations of 400 ppm in as little as four minutes [source: UL 2034]. "
In part, because of this reason, you should not be concerned about false alarms too much if placed close to a possible source. A small, limited output of CO (which should likely not occur anyway) will not set off the alarm. If a large concentration occurs, even for a short period, I would want to know. Some detectors will have a display and show you the highest reading (even if an alarm has not gone off.
An example link to info: How do things work
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2020 11:53am
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I just replaced ours, it told us it was expired.
So the new one came with instructions on a small 3x4 inch piece of paper....that unfolded to a 3x4 foot piece of paper...with size 4 font. I got out a magnifying glass and read some of it, gave up, stuck in a battery and hung it on the wall. I did read that part.
Why is it every dang thing you buy nowadays comes with an instruction book?
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Nate R
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2020 01:07pm
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I like to keep it simple.....There are detectors that do both smoke alarm and CO, in the same unit, WITH 10 year internal batteries built in. They don't last as long when exposed to cold temps, but I'd just buy one of those, and put it in the cabin and be done. No battery to change or worry about chirping, and getting both alarms in one device is one less thing to worry about. 
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2020 04:58pm - Edited by: Nobadays
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Our First Alert carbon monoxide detector probably saved our lives.... ours just sits on a shelf about 4.5 feet off the ground and worked perfectly when it was needed.
We had bought this one as our first visit to the cabin after purchase we noticed the one that was in the cabin was out if date. When we came up last spring for the summer we set the new one on the shelf after putting the battery in and hitting the test button. About a week later I had woke up around 1AM and noticed I could smell "burned propane ." I should have gotten up but in my groggy state I passed it off to propane lights we had been burning that even.
At 3:30AM we were awakened by a shrill beeping from the carbon monoxide alarm.... the cabin smelled of burned propane... and we both had headaches! Turns out the exhaust on the fridge had not been cleaned in who knows how long.... us just settling in had not thought about it. Soot in the exhaust stack had fallen onto the burner head preventing a clean burn. Obviously we shut it off and cleaned right then!
If you have propane appliances or a woodstove I highly recommend a carbon monoxide detector! As RAz says, don't be worried about false alarms, they are not smoke alarms and do not go off if you burn the toast!
Just get one and stay alive!
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bushbunkie
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2020 05:56pm
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We have a propane cook stove and Elmira wood burning stove. We have 2 co detectors...one in each bedroom... and a fire alarm in main area operating at all times and our propane stove is under our kitchen window. Our kitchen window is always cracked 24/7 a few inches regardless of the weather...for the price of batteries and detectors are always on sale...why would I take any chances for a long life?....I’ve learned from the gang on this site😀ðŸ‘
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2020 09:02pm
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Outstanding! Great advise & info. Thanks
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SE Ohio
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jan 2020 11:01am
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IMHO, I like to have separate CO and smoke detectors, as I frequently disconnect smoke detector when it alarms during a failed wood stove lighting event . I’d like the CO detector to still be on just in case I forget/delay reconnecting smoke detector...
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gsreimers
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2020 10:32pm
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I used to joke about fire alarms and Co alarms at the cabin. Hung a Jiffy Pop popcorn on the wall and said if it smelled like popcorn it was time to get out. Then I became a grandpa and my granddaughter started coming up to the cabin. We now have CO and fire alarms in the cabin an both bunk houses.
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hattie
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2020 01:21pm
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Okay so I feel really, really stupid now! I had no idea that burning wood created carbon monoxide. I honestly thought it was just from propane and gas heaters. We don't have a wood stove in our place but do have one at the heritage cabin we are preserving. I just purchased some new smoke alarms for it because the one there no longer worked (it was ancient). Now I think I will need to get a carbon monoxide detector as well. Thanks for this information. I feel pretty dumb but at least I know now. 
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2020 09:27pm
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Just to make it clear... Anything that burns can produce CO if the combustion is incomplete. Anything.
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