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Default CO vs CH4 detectors


We have natural gas (no, not flatulence, but for heating). When
you burn natural gas you get CO2 and water. No CO as far as I know
unless "bad" burn. So shouldn't such homes have CH4 (methane)
detectors (pilot out) or do CO detectors somehow also catch CH4?


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Edwin Pawlowski
 
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"John Smith" wrote in message
?


Methane doesn't kill people. Why bother detecting it?


So it does not go B O O O O M

Also, it will suffocate you if it displaces oxygen. Ask any coal minor
about gas detection.


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willshak
 
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John Smith wrote:

wrote:


We have natural gas (no, not flatulence, but for heating). When
you burn natural gas you get CO2 and water. No CO as far as I know
unless "bad" burn. So shouldn't such homes have CH4 (methane)
detectors (pilot out) or do CO detectors somehow also catch CH4?




Methane doesn't kill people. Why bother detecting it?


That's true. Methane gas by itself does not kill people. However, in
enclosed and unventilated spaces, it displaces oxygen which, as you
might be aware of, is essential to life. People working in enclosed and
unventilated spaces where there is an accumulation of methane gas may
not be getting enough oxygen, which may lead to unconsciousness, and if
not discovered early enough, death.


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John Smith
 
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A sulfur compound (t-butylthiol?) is added to natural gas. If you
have a leak, you should be able to smell it long before the
concentration of methane is high enough to suffocate you.

As to explosion, the lower explosion limit of methane is 5.3. If
the air contains less than 5.3% of methane, it cannot and will not
explode. You should be able to smell the leak long before the
concentration of methane reaches 5.3%.

On the other hand, if there is a incomplete burning, CO is
generated. The OSHA permissible exposure limit for CO is 50 ppm
for eight hours. 50 ppm is 0.005%. We are talking about really low
concentration here.

If you have to decide whether to buy a methane or CO detector, you
ought to buy a CO detector. If you are still worry and have money
left, then buy a methane detector.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"John Smith" wrote in message
?

Methane doesn't kill people. Why bother detecting it?



So it does not go B O O O O M

Also, it will suffocate you if it displaces oxygen. Ask any coal minor
about gas detection.


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