Enough with the Drama, Already

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Last night, my son Gabe came into my room at 3:17. In the morning. So, not last night, but this morning. Whatever.

"Mom? I keep hearing this beeping and I don't know what it is," he said. I didn't know what it could be - an alarm set to the wrong time, the smoke detector, what? - so I got up. Faintly, I heard a random beep, but wasn't able to place it. (Very important that I never heard the beep until he woke me.) I got out of bed and started down the steps, where I heard it again. I walked to the smoke detectors, but because the noise was intermittent, it took some time to locate the source -ultimately, I found that the carbon monoxide detector situated behind the dryer was beeping. Knowing that an intermittent beep signaled an error and not an urgency, I ripped the detector out of the outlet and went back to bed.

I KNOW. But I LOVES me some sleep.

When I went downstairs this morning I stuck that detector back into the outlet behind the dryer and checked that it was seated correctly. It did not beep and the green "go" light came on. I got everyone ready for school and we left. There were no other beeps.

When I returned home, I could hear the detector beeping again - but the solid beep of "trouble", not the annoying random "I'm a fussy little beyotch of a detector, unhappy with my life". I walked into the house, didn't smell anything at all, and opened every single window and door. Within fifteen seconds, the beeping stopped - well, no, I take that back. The solid beeping stopped from the detector behind the dryer and switched to an intermittent beep - supported by an echoing intermittent beep from the OTHER Carbon monoxide detector - the detector formerly known as Silent Sam. WTH? The two detectors beeped in opposition to each other every 30 or so seconds while I called my husband and we discussed what to do. I switched the locations of both detectors and both stopped, but moving them to the earlier spots, and even switching detector a to location b and vice versa made them both beep once again. The house was FREEZING and so we made an executive decision to close all of the windows and doors except for one and to call the fire department.

I know. Stupid move or not? I was planning to be out for most of the day, the house would be closed up, and the thought that BOTH detectors malfunctioned on the same day, AT THE SAME TIME - well, I don't ever play the ponies. Maybe I should.

I called the non emergency number and explained my predicament and the dispatcher, a lovely woman, agreed that we should have it checked out. I asked if maybe the fire trucks could come without lights and sirens, but it didn't happen. My neighbors will hopefully forgive me. The firefighters came - I took a picture and posted it on Twitter (hey, I don't do social media for nothing!) - and they were a delightful bunch of very kind men. They looked at my still beeping detectors, checked my dryer, went in my attic (which had a very strong natural gas odor - more on that in a minute), had me turn on all of the hot water in the house to empty the hot water heater and have it fire on. I turned on the oven, cranked on the heaters, they checked out the gas logs - and found two suspicious areas. So the wonderful, very kind and so not annoyed with me (thank you, Jesus!) firefighters called for the other truck - the one with the technicians, the ones with the more sensitive equipment. (I don't know the specifics, I was too shook up to focus.)

The technicians found nothing, even in the two suspicious areas, but did say that we need to have the natural gas odor in the attic - the location of the water heater (seriously, stupid builders - who puts the water heater in the attic!) and one of the heating units - checked. (We have done so and it is fine.) The oven door is loose, which is why it might have registered - and the dryer area, the scene of all the early crime and drama - was stone cold dead.

As are, apparently, the two detectors. I was told today that the locations we had them - near the dryer and the gas fireplace - caused both to be exposed to levels of carbon monoxide - for every appliance that uses gas emits a bit of that while in use. And the detectors, I was told by the lovely fire fighters of my fair city, have been saturated with carbon monoxide and need to be replaced ASAP. We should, instead, put one outside of our bedroom door - so we will, you know, actually HEAR it - and one in the front room. Not in any  exposure areas.(We thought that the detectors should be near any appliance that uses gas. Dumb move, us.)

Two hours later, the wonderful fire department and I were through with each other, and the most traumatic part of the entire event was when I realized that a) my house was a WRECK and b) I left my bras on top of the dryer - and had asked 4 fire fighters and 4 technicians to jump right on in there. I felt really stupid and apologetic, for I feel like I wasted their time - but they reassured me. All agreed that it was VERY peculiar that both detectors malfunctioned AT THE SAME TIME and they were as suspicious as I was.

Stress and me, we're like THIS now. And I'd be a liar if I didn't say that I wanna break up.

Comments

[Sandra]

you can never be to careful!

[jan]

awww come on carmen...were the hunky firefighter dudes? I just so love my firemen at the local station. Luckily I've not had to encounter them at my own home lately!
Glad all worked out ok, and what do you know, you learned something new today (and me too!)

[Pearl]

I agree that Stress has played havoc with your heart for way too long. A song comes to mind... '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover". Run fast. Run far.

[Jodie]

I'm glad everything is alright. And I totally did not know about where to put the CO2 detectors.

I'm eating a late supper of Rice Krispies and nearly sprayed the computer screen with them when I read your bras were on top of the dryer. I really cannot stop laughing. Totally something that would happen to me!

[Nicki]

I'm glad all turned out well in this regard, because that stuff is scary. So, any pictures of the firefighters? No? Oh well. It could have been worse. There could have been elastic-shot underwear up there with the bras. :)

[Karen L]

CO2-Stressful situation, yes. Bras just funny.
I would much rather have the firemen see my uninhabited bras on top of a dryer than having the paramedics watch me throw up repeatedly, no make that throw up non-stop during a gallbladder attack last year. That was mortifying, or would have been, if I hadn't been in such pain it hurt too much to cry!
Thanks for blogging about the CO2 detectors, good to now know the proper location for installing them!

[Patricia]

Do I get to be all picky and mention that the detectors should be CO detectors and not CO2??

We breathe out CO2 every time we breathe -- CO2 doesn't kill us. It is Carbon MONOxide that kills.

However, I'm thrilled you figured out where to put your detectors -- that GOOD. And I think that you ought to play the ponies.

(And as a fireman's kid -- I can tell you -- firemen = HOT!!!!!!)

[Carmen]

YES! You get to be picky.

I'm stupid and I changed it. Thanks for the heads up!

[Katrina]

I'm a big co-2 freak and would have done the same thing. Years ago, while I was still single, my roommates an I were awakened at 5 a.m. on a Sat. to the co-2 detector going off. Sigh. We called for help and asked them also to not put on their sirens and lights. They did anyway--woke up lots of people at 5 a.m. on a Sat.
Nothing. No co-2 in our townhouse. I don't remember them telling us to replace it or what, but I remember it being stressful and annoying.
My former co-workers parents came home one evening (also years ago), and in their aging state, left the car running--in the garage, all night. The co-workers mother died, while sleeping, from co-2 poisoning and her dad, lived--he was crouched over in the bathroom, they think since he was crouched over that his lungs didn't receive as much of the co-2. But since that incident, I have been a freak about the detectors (this couple obviously didn't have any). I won't even let my husband turn on our propane fireplace, I'm a little freakish about fire and things. ;) Sorry, I got off on a tangent.
Glad you fixed your problem!

[Mama Cas]

Your hot water heater is in the attic?! WTF?! What happens if it springs a leak?

Glad your problem is a minor one. And stop feeling guilty or silly. When your family's safety is concerned, it's better to be safe. Can you stop for a minute and think about the alternative? *shudder* You did the right thing and I'm glad the firefighters were so helpful and understanding.

[mary]

But were the firemen cute??? lol.

I have had them stop working too. And just beep like crazy. I bought a new one and it was fine. Dumb things.

Never a dull moment in your casa chick. And the water heater in the attic; dumb. Is that b/c you dont have a basement?

[Megan]

Firefighters are the best. A few months ago I managed, in a moment of brilliance, to lock myself out of my house while there was chicken cooking in the oven. My two cats were in there, so I probably overreacted a bit. After trying unsuccessfully to break in and to get ahold of friends with spare keys, I called the non emergency number and within 5 minutes a truck full of hunky volunteer firemen arrived, with lights but no siren. By that time I did have a friend coming over with a key, but she wouldn't be there for awhile, so they tried unsuccessfully to pry open the door without damaging it. Then they just hung out with me to make sure flames didn't erupt before my friend showed up. They too were nice as could be and didn't make me feel as though I was wasting their time.

So glad everything turned out okay. Carbon monoxide is scary stuff.

[Wendy E]

And again, you were in the right place doing the right thing. If you hadn't had it checked out, it would have been something serious, and then what? I've had both our CO detectors and our smoke detectors go off at random times. If there ever really is an emergency, we are in soooo much trouble. We'll never know if it is legit or not.

[Mary]

Nothing wrong w/ being cautious about the carbon monoxide. Every year we read about some family who dies from it. And besides that what the fireman are there for - and I bet they appreciate a family that have the detectors and uses them and calls BEFORE a tragedy. So, all in all - a good thing.

Here is my funny story for you (only w/a policeman). Fell asleep while nursing a baby on the sofa one night and awoke to someone knocking on the door at 3:30 in the am. I turn on the hall light and look down the banister and out the top part of the door(windows on the top), realize it is a policeman, so go down and talk to him, go down the lit hall to wake my husband and back to the officer. Only AFTER the Officer leaves, do I realize, I have the front of my top totally undone. So I flashed this officer not once but THREE times. (I could have died when I realized it).

Oh, and why was he there - they do night patrols (never knew that), and the side door of the mini-van was open and he wanted to make sure everyone and thing was alright. Of course the door was open because in my sleep deprived state after hauling all the children in I forgot to close the sliding door and my husband walked right by it and never closed it either.

Oh well, at least the officer and I (may he never repeat my name in our home town)both got a funny story to tell out of the deal.

[BeeBelle]

I called out the firefighters a few years back when my CO detector was beeping and one of my kids was showing flu symptoms. She had the flu, but they actually seemed THRILLED that I had called, and did tell me I needed to replace the units as well. I have one outside the upstairs bedrooms and one outside the downstairs bedrooms.

[Tiffany Tweedie]

I'm totally an err on the side of caution girl. You did the right thing! Better to call and have it be nothing than not call and be... you know... dead!

[mm]

Well I am so sorry but when I got to the "bras on top of the dryer" part I just cracked up. Isn't that just how life is? The kids only call from school because they forgot shoes when your hair looks like crap. Or you have to stop and pump gas when you have your "I don't give a heck" pants on.
The important thing is everything worked out and the fire department was good about it.

[Karen]

Better safe than dead from carbon monoxide poisoning....

[Brandy]

I echo the sentiment of the poster above this one. I would rather trouble the authorities than worry. I'm glad everything worked out well for y'all. Hugs on the stress.

[Lisa @ All That and a box of Rocks]

You can never be too careful! Glad you called for backup...

And just thought I'd commiserate on the hot water heater in the attic. How dumb is that?!?! We've been in this house for nearly 3 years and I STILL shake my head when I open the storage area upstairs.

[kyooty]

If it's not one things it's somethings else? Right? I'm glad that it all checked out ok.,

[FireMom]

This is the time of year that CO2 detectors:

1) Go dead.
2) Save lives.

Your firefighters should never be annoyed to be called out for a check. My husband has been on 5 CO2 calls in 2 shifts. It's just the time of year. They expect it. NEVER hesitate to call. Don't feel guilty. That's why they are there. You are in the right for having called them. Friends of ours in Kentucky lost an entire family of four because they thought their CO2 detector was just malfunctioning. ALWAYS call. Always.

(But taking brownies down to the house as a thank you doesn't hurt either.)

[Paige]

That is so scary! You did the right thing.