Is It Time to Install New Devices?
Do you have one of these or similar "Explosive Gas and Carbon Monoxide Alarms" in your condo, home, or RV? Have you tested it? If it screams when tested, does that mean it really works? Will it actually detect propane, butane, and carbon monoxide?
When we purchased our condo unit in Puerto Vallarta, we tested
our First Alert Gas/Carbon Monoxide alarm, located under the kitchen range, by
pushing the Test / Silence button. It set off a horrendous, alarming shriek. We
incorrectly assumed that it would detect these harmful, potentially fatal gases.
We inadvertently put that Gas (Propane) Detector to a true test. I turned a burner on under a pot of water to cook spaghetti noodles. Then Jon and I went outside with glasses of wine to throw the ball for Sophie while we waited for the water to boil.
Thirty minutes later, I went inside to check the pot of water.
The flame under the pan had blown out or had never lit, and the apartment was
FULL of propane gas! I could smell it, but the Gas Detector had not alerted us.
A single spark would have caused an explosion!
I turned the burner to the “OFF” position and immediately opened all windows and doors. Then I turned on the exhaust fan over the range and went outside to wait half an hour for the gas to clear—and my heart rate to slow.
Why? This Carbon Monoxide and Gas Alarm is defective. The average life of an alarm/detector is five to seven years. Our condominium building is seven years old, so it was past time to install a new alarm. Another lesson learned!
Gas Detector
Jon purchased a plug-in BITW Gas Detector from Amazon for our
condo unit. (LP Gas includes propane, butane, and methane.) It was Amazon’s Choice
in Mexico; you can see it at this link: https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B08M85TRDR.
Jon placed the Gas Detector at the lowest possible height to detect the propane in our Puerto Vallarta condo, plugged into a low outlet near the kitchen. Now, could we trust it to work? (Natural Gas rises, so gas detectors need to be placed higher in that case. Follow the detector instructions for proper use.)
Jon tested the alarm with a butane lighter. He held the tip
close to the sensor and held the lighter’s trigger just far enough to release
butane but not light. Immediately, the alarm shrieked, as shown in the video
below. Thankfully, it has a reset button on the right side to silence it—Sophie,
our Chihuahua, did not like that sound!
We will test the gas detector in our motorhome next and install a new one if needed. But it is necessary to use a battery-powered gas detector in RV’s
Motorhome Propane Detector
Jon tested the gas/propane detector in our motorhome, and, no surprise, it didn’t work. That propane sniffer should have been screaming with a new lighter spewing butane next to it. Not a sound, as expected from the old detector. Our Minnie Winnie is a 2005 model so that gas detector is probably almost twenty years old. It’s time to replace it. However, it is necessary to use a battery-powered gas detector in RVs. Jon has already ordered a new one from Amazon.
First Alert Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector
Our condominium did not have a single Smoke Detector inside
the unit. There is one outside our front door in the common area, but that’s
not close enough! Does it even work?
We ordered two First Alert Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms from
Amazon. Jon installed one on the condo hallway wall near the ceiling around the
corner from the kitchen. He replaced the old alarm in our motorhome with the
second one.
We recommend using First Alert detectors as we have found them to be very reliable, but they need replacing periodically. Always remember to carefully read the packaging on any detector before purchasing. Home Depot carries them, but some only detect smoke, not carbon monoxide.
Don't Forget a Fire Extinguisher!
It is also important to keep a fire extinguisher on hand. We
recommend the AB&C class extinguishers as they put out ordinary combustible,
flammable liquids, and electrical fires. Fire extinguishers should be replaced
every five years or as recommended in the instructions. (Home Depot carries these.)
Stay Safe and Happy New Year!
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Salud!
Terry
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Fantastic tips. I have read of several people who died in Mexico because of gas leaks. We don't have any gas in our house (it's all electric), but since the house was brand spanking new when we moved in nearly two years ago, we have smoke detectors all over the place (required by code in the US). And yes, we have a lovely red fire extinguisher we purchased ourselves. We learned that from our boating and RVing days. Excellent post, Terry. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emily. The stories of people who have died from carbon monoxide poisoning are so sad, too. I don't think people give these possible dangers enough thought. I hope this post helps some others.
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