Is It Time to Install New Devices?
Our Original "Explosive Gas and Carbon Monoxide Alarm"
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.
It Even Said "Evacuate" on the Screen When Tested
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!
We
chose to install two new detectors/alarms.
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.
Plug-In LP Gas Detector/Alarm
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
Video of Jon Testing the Gas Detector/Alarm
Motorhome Propane Detector
Jon Testing the 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
Installed on the Hallway Wall Near the Ceiling
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!
Our ABC Fire Extinguisher Under the Kitchen Sink
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!
Please read more about expat life in Mexico in my novels, FREE to download on Amazon worldwide with KindleUnlimited. Here's a nice review I received recently:
𝑨 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒚
𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆
𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆,
𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚,
𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒍𝒆
𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏
𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆,
𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈
𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓.
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Terry
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