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Inspecting Your Smoke and Carbon Dioxide Detectors

Did you think we meant carbon monoxide – the high profile “invisible killer” that also needs early detection? We did not! Although we breathe carbon dioxide in and out every day, there are good reasons to monitor it. It can actually lead to death by asphyxiation, although this is thankfully very rare, in part due to detectors and their regular inspection.

Check CO2 Detectors - Ann Arbor MI - Clean Sweeps of MI

The CO2 Canary

Sometimes it seems that there is really nothing safe about the air we breathe, with warnings about yet another toxic gas to guard against. Carbon dioxide detectors are not quite the same thing, although they function to prevent the same kind of “intoxication” and poisoning caused by toxic gases. CO2 has to build up to extremely high levels to present a danger, but that makes it a good canary.

Because CO2 concentration can rise a great deal without posing risks, monitoring its presence can safely tell homeowners a lot about their chimneys and vents. Insufficient draft can be caught long before smoke and more toxic gases trigger other detectors and possibly fire suppression systems. If they function properly, with periodic inspection by certified professionals, carbon dioxide and smoke detectors ensure good ventilation and safer air.

Detectors for Workplace and Home

Primarily used in workplace settings because more people are exhaling carbon dioxide in enclosed spaces, CO2 detectors have a place in homes as well. Like the more known carbon monoxide gas, carbon dioxide is also a by-product of combustion and is generated by furnaces and fireplaces. In today’s air-tight homes, if vents and chimneys do not draft properly, toxic gases can build up to dangerous levels when unseen and unchecked.

That is where all detectors come in, whether designed to react to smoke, carbon monoxide, or CO2. They are an early warning system that gets people out of the house or building until the air quality improves. Carbon dioxide detectors, in particular, are also a good way to safely expose and correct inadequate ventilation for the home or office.

Changing Your Oil-Stove to a Wood Stove

The conversion of a stove to allow for the use of a different fuel is possible but complicated and requires involvement by professionals. Some of what they do is necessary anyway, so if a change is on your mind, consultation can be part of this spring’s chimney inspection. Your sweep can tell you the feasibility of your plan and what you need to do, given your own unique circumstances.

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Venting Is Still the Issue

First, a CSIA certified chimney sweep needs to inspect your venting system to determine whether it can handle the conversion or will need to be changed itself. Stacks designed to vent smoke from oil are not necessarily equipped to handle the different combustibles produced by wood. Second, if the flue can stay, it has to be thoroughly cleaned, and the chimney has to be in good condition regardless.

A different firebox will almost certainly be required, and your chimney sweep should be involved with that, too. It needs to be sized properly for the flue to vent the different gases produced by burning wood. Insufficiencies that may not be apparent in a stove’s oil-burning performance can show up when the smoke going up it is different.

Ask a Chimney Sweep

Certified chimney sweeps are also familiar with the ease or difficulty of new installations and can guide your understanding of their likely expense. They are up to date on clearances and codes and can be a valuable source of information needed for this conversion. They need to come out and check your system anyway, so take full advantage of everything they can offer.

Another important thing to consider in this process is where the wood is going to be stored. The right balance of convenience and safety has to be struck, with wood kept far enough away from the house to be safe. Even this kind of thing is worth discussing with a chimney sweep, because they will have plenty of ideas on how to make your home and stove safer.

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