New California Law Requires Home Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Homeowners must install detectors by July 1, 2011 By: Brenda Gazzar, Staff Writer Pasadena Star-News (California) Updated: 06-24-2011 8:24 am
A Los Angeles area lawmaker is hoping his bill requiring single-family homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors by next month will save dozens of lives.
Under SB 183, authored by state Senator Alan Lowenthall, D-Long Beach, and signed into law last year by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, owners of single-family homes must install the detectors by July 1, 2011 or face possible fines of up to $200.00.
"What it means...is that we can avoid somewhere between 30 and 40 deaths a year," Lowenthal said, "and up to 700 emergency room visits."
"We can save a lot of lives and protect people from a lot of illness," he added. "Starting on July 1, you've got to have it."
The detectors alert residents to dangerous accumulations of carbon monoxide - a completely invisible and odorless gas - before it can cause serious injury or death.
The new law applies to all single-family homes with fossil fuel burning appliances, fireplaces or attached garages.
All other residential units, such as apartments and hotels, have until January 1, 2013, to install the detectors.
The devices can be purchased at any home improvement or hardware store for around $20.00
