A new California law that went into effect July 1, 2011 requires that carbon monoxide detectors are installed in all single family homes with a gas burning appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage are subject to the July 1, 2011 mandate. Home owner occupied and single family rental properties are included in this mandate.
The bill requires that alarm devices, which can cost less than $30, to be installed in existing single-family homes that have a fossil-fuel burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage, starting in mid-2011. All other residential units will have to have the detectors in place by Jan. 1, 2013.
This means that if you are a home owner or landlord, you should definitely install a carbon monoxide detector. Insurance companies will certainly use this law as another loophole to deny coverage in the event of an accident.
What about rental units? According to the article quoted above you will have until January 1, 2013 to install carbon monoxide detectors in rental units. Only “single family homes” with a gas burning appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage are subject to the July 1, 2011 mandate.
But why carbon monoxide detectors?
The California Air Resources Board says an average of 30 to 40 “avoidable deaths” occur in California each year because of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. Lowenthal said there also are hundreds of “avoidable” emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the state each year.
Read the full article here at the LATimes: New law to require home carbon monoxide detectors.
Where do they need to be installed? (This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)
- One detector on each level of a house
- One detector near each sleeping area
- One of the detectors should be as close to the furnace as possible.
Looking for someone to install a carbon monoxide detector in your SDF or rental unit? Give me a call, I know someone who will install them for a very great price: (805) 727-3239.
