[Greenbuilding] More CO problems--equalizing solar batteries

[KTOT (g)]

I never said I NEED seven. I said I HAVE seven. Four are non-digital that were installed when I had the house built. Two on main floor, one in utility room, one in storage part of garage. I’ve since added three digital which I can move around easily, but I generally keep one in the bedroom, one in the main living area near the kitchen, and one in the utility room where all the solar and other off-grid equipment is. Thus seven. Sounds excessive but I don’t think it is, though if I were redoing it, I probably wouldn’t install all four non-digitals.

The irony is tight houses are supposed to be a good thing. I had a fantastic builder who overbuilds everything, and this house has proven to be extremely tight. Even when way below freezing, the passive solar almost completely heats the house, day and night. For three seasons of the year it’s not a problem as the house has very high clerestory windows meant specifically for venting as well as very low ones which help with circulation. Once winter is past, I’ll have those windows open full-time. Just not right now. Next winter I may try leaving one or a few of the high windows open a crack all winter (not now—it’s a pain to get an extra high ladder to get up and reach them, and spring will be coming soon enough) to see if that resolves the problem. Meantime, for the cooking issue I’m about to order some wok stands as I think the person who mentioned the large pans on the propane burners may cause the CO problem may be onto something. As far as the solar batteries, no one is at all addressing my question, so I think I need to find some off-grid, not green building, forums for that. To me, however, green building includes off-grid energy sources.

From: John Straube 
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 2:44 PM
To: Green Building 
Cc: KTOT (g) 
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] More CO problems--equalizing solar batteries

Well, I think RT is right on.
With seven CO sensors, CO likely wont get you. But why would you live in a house that needs 7 alarms?
How do those alarms protect you from excess moisture, high aledhyde and benzene levels, and all other common indoor air quality issues.
It is for these reasons that we require ventilation of  houses.  This ventilation worked in the past by leaks, and today by some designed system that works for most hours of the day and does not require occupant input.

As I have pointed out before, wether the house is to code or not is not as relevant as if the house works or not.


Dr John Straube, P.Eng. 
www.BuildingScience.com

On 12-02-19 2:05 PM, KTOT (g) wrote: 
  Actually, you're being a little overly dramatic. I catch the CO levels when they just start rising. Before they get dangerous, alarms go off. None have recently. With seven alarms, I doubt they'd all fail. Also the location of the batteries is completely separate from the kitchen, so ventilation strategies for the two need to be completely different. Also the wood stove never causes a problem nor does regular cooking or baking or anything else. So your email really isn't too helpful. 

  -----Original Message----- From: RT 
  Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 11:48 AM 
  To: Green Building 
  Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] More CO problems--equalizing solar batteries 

  On Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:47:19 -0500, KTOT (g) mailto:ktottotc at gmail.com wrote: 


    I encountered another, potentially very serious, CO problem yesterday 



  As mentioned the other day, I think that your ventilation strategy needs 
  revising. 

  Currently it seems to be one of reactive measures (ie wait until CO 
  sensors tell you CO levels are too high, then open a window or door). 

  Generally-speaking, reactive solutions are seldom a very good approach to 
  a problem. In your case, it could be lethal. 

  Simply relying upon opening a door to let the mutts in or out to provide 
  the necessary ventilation air changes is clearly not working. 

  There needs to be a means put in in place provide regular air changes -- 
  either an exhaust-only/passive inlet system or something like an HRV that 
  will provide you with heat recovery on the exhaust air stream. 

  Until one or the other is implemented, you will likely be back on this 
  list asking about every CO event (making soup, canned preserves, charging 
  batteries, lighting a fire, having guests over for a dinner party etc ) . 



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