Hair Dryer and Smoke Detector?

About a month ago I got about 6 inches of water in my basement. A day later the water was gone but it was still very damp. CO detector on the basement ceiling near the furnace and water heater went off. Neither furnace or water heater had been running. Had to pull the battery. Thanks for reminding me. I just put the battery back in and the detector seems to be fine. Seems moisture got to it. But I don't trust it now so I'll get a new one.

--Vic

The blow dryer likely blew dust and other particles (powder, etc..) into the sensing chamber. In a commercial environment they are to be inspected every year, and cleaned/replaced if necessary by a licensed technician.

That's because you probably have ionization detectors in the home, rather than the preferred photo-electric type.

Smart move.

I used to have CRS, but I think it's turning into CRAFT (Can'r remember an effing thing.)

Goodnight Irene,

I used to have CRS, but I think it's turning into CRAFT (Can'r remember an effing thing.)

Goodnight Irene,

"jeff_wisnia" wrote in

Two things come to mind that might have caused it. Knocking around in a bag on the way to work dislodged a bunch of dust particles that ignited and set off the detector. Your work outlet might deliver slightly more juice and cause plasticizers that hadn't vaporized at the slightly lower temp to also get into the air stream when heated to a slightly higher temperature. My office outlets always ran a few volts higher than compared to home.

She might have used a higher heat setting at work. When I switch a space heater from 500 to 1000W, a different coil is energized that has been sitting in the air stream collecting dust that then incinerates as the coil heats up.

It's why the VFD siren across the street sounds all through the fall as people turn on their heat for the first time. All the dust accumulated from the AC months burns off and it can be quite a stink, especially for those stupid enough to run without filters. I always start up the heat when my wife's TDY. It bothers her for days. This is a person who can smell people smoking 10 car lengths ahead in the winter with the windows rolled up!

I run the furnace full tilt for an hour with the windows open and the fans on, usually on the day I put the fans away for the season. Even with filters the condensate water gets muddy and the furnace creates quite a stink because the filter is AFTER the heat exchanger which is after the A-coil. Not the best design, but it burns off pretty quickly.

This year we went with 2 window ACs instead of the CAC and the electricity bill dropped by $50 for most of August. Didn't like the slapping noise the new units make, but we've survived. Before, the basement would drop into the 50F's with CAC because the house is old and the ducts are very small and exposed. They end up giving off most of their "cool" to the basement.

-- Bobby G.

Has Katrina returned? I didn't know that was possible......

...and it was George Bush's fault!