I Hate Carbon Monoxide

Last night our carbon monoxide detector went off. Again. This time we weren't using the stove or anything. We had no way of rationalizing it or explaining it. The detector went off and kept going off. There was nothing for it but to call 9-1-1.

We went outside to wait for the emergency folks to show up. First a policeman, then a fire engine full of firemen. The fire department brought along a CO detector and did a walk through the house. They found elevated levels in the basement that were high enough to require them to kick us out of the house and call the gas company.

The gas company showed up with a much swankier CO detector and found that the levels were not as high as the fire department unit saw. After waiting about 10 minutes he walked through again and found them much lower still. After another 10 minutes he walked through once again and the readings were zero.

So the in-house environment was once again safe. The problem, as pointed out by the Methuen Fire Department, was that a rental unit like ours requires a carbon monoxide detector on all habitable levels. Our apartment has three levels. The other apartment in our duplex has four. There were apparently only two CO detectors. It looks as though our landlord got calls from the gas company and the fire department last night. I don't want them to be pissed off, but if the law says one per floor, we need two more. Sorry guys.