Carbon Monoxide Law
It is required by Colorado law that all homes with gas furnaces or appliances or attached garages that have been sold or rented after July 1, 2009, are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. There has to be at least one detector on each level of the home and within 15 feet of all sleeping rooms, that includes any common areas. For example, if there is a sofa sleeper in the living room, basement or a loft.
The carbon monoxide detectors can save yours and your family life. They will sound an alarm when there are high levels of the dangerous gas present.
What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that occurs as a by-product of burning fuels such as wood, oil, and natural gas, owing to incomplete combustions. Carbon Monoxide is quickly absorbed by the body, where it inhibits the blood’s ability to transport oxygen, resulting in dizziness and nausea.
In addition, to portable generators, furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves all produce CO as a natural result of their combustion of fuel. When these units are functioning properly and are properly ventilated, their CO emissions are not a problem; however, improper ventilation or equipment malfunctions can allow large quantities of CO to be released into a residence or commercial structure in a very short amount of time. CO is a problem often encountered by property managers if tenants use kerosene heaters. You can learn more about it at www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html
As Co concentrations increase, the symptoms become more severe, and death may occur within a short time. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, www.cpsc.gov about 170 deaths from nonautomotive carbon monoxide poisoning occur in the United States each year. Thousands of other individuals require hospital emergency room care annually. Many cases arise from the use of portable generators in areas that have undergone a natural disaster.
Colorado House Bill 09-1091
This law took effect on July 1, 2009, and requires any rental residential property to install carbon monoxide alarms near (15 feet) the bedrooms or other sleeping areas as mentioned above. This requirement applies to every home that is sold, remodeled, repaired, or leased to a new tenant after July 1, 2009.
As your real estate agent, I will check that this requirement is met. Otherwise, if the carbon monoxide detectors are missing, that issue will arise during the inspection process. This way we can take care of that beforehand when listing your property on the market.
Call 911
Never ignore if the carbon monoxide alarm goes off or if someone is experiencing any of the gas poisoning symptoms. Never assume that it is a false alarm. Make sure you go outside to a fresh area, call 911 and the property manager if you are renting the home.
You can learn more about Carbon Monoxide Law in Colorado on this page.
