It has been bouncing around the State Capitol for nearly four years. SB 183, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010, finally passed making homeowners everywhere run to the hardware store.
Beginning July 1, 2011, all existing construction is required to have a working Carbon Monoxide (CO) dector. A similar bill was vetoed last year by the Governor when it listed that all new construction would have to include hardwired detectors for the colorless, odorless gas.
Home inspectors will be required, just as they are now with smoke detectors, to check whether a home or apartment is violating this requirement.
While a rare occurence, the author of this bill hopes to save lives, with Carbon Monoxide claiming an estimated 480 people each year nationwide and between 30 and 40 annually in California alone.
This law impacts the housing market, and those interested in selling new or older properties. While the seller of a property is not required to install this type of device as a condition of sale, SB 183 requires that a Carbon Monoxide device be installed in existing homes that have a fossil fuel burning appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage. Failure to install a device requires you pay a $200 fine, but not without a warning. Homeowners have 30 days to hook up the CO detector.
Here are a few notes about where to place your detector or detectors for various spaces within a home:
*Do not place devices in any humid spaces like bathrooms or kitchens
*Do place devices 10-15 feet from all bedrooms
*Do not place devices in utility rooms, laundry room, etc… but do place outside
The price range is from 13 dollars to 100 dollars. The law further states that all homes should have one by January of 2013.