Check your carbon monoxide detector and fridge compartment!

[ShrimpBurrito]

We went camping a few weeks ago, and as we were sitting inside during the day, with nearly all the windows wide open, I nearly jumped out of my chair when the CO detector went off. It is nearly painful to listen to -- much louder and/or more piercing than a smoke detector.

There was major pine pollen floating around, so I at first reset it a few times, thinking that was what was setting it off. When that didn't do anything, I pulled the vent cover to the fridge. As it turns out, several pieces of fiberglass insulation, that the factory installs atop the fridge, fell down around the burner, presumably restricting airflow to the burner. I removed the 2 metal covers that cover the actual burner, and found a few more pieces on the backside of the burner. I cleaned everything back up, and although it sounded the alarm one more time, that was it for the rest of the weekend. I ran the fridge on gas for a few days upon returning home, and no more alarms as well.

I had coincidentally replaced the CO detector just last year, as the original supposedly only had a 10-year (or less) life, after which its effectiveness apparently diminishes. The new one only has a 5-year life, after which it will start to chirp periodically until replaced. In any event, I can only speculate that I possibly would not be alive to write this had I not replaced the detector last year. It may have saved our lives.

So....check the date on your CO detector, and make sure there's nothing restricting airflow to the fridge burner if you use the fridge on gas.

Dave

The detector very well could have saved your life!

Koz