Do landlords need to put Carbon Monoxide Detectors in?
Question
I know I must have smoke detectors in my rental units. Do I also need carbon monoxide detectors?
Answer
As for smoke detectors, requirements regarding carbon monoxide detectors may depend on what state or county, even what municipality your units are located in.
In review, carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas potentially generated by any fossil-fuel (most commonly oil, gas, coal, or wood) burning device, including furnaces, kitchen ranges, water heaters, and clothes dryers. CO is a product of incomplete combustion of the fuel, so it is also a product in most fires.
Fossil fuel burning devices that are not well-maintained are particularly dangerous. Inadequate venting for the devices is another source of danger. Since gasoline engines also generate CO, attached garages are also a potential source of danger.
Although not all jurisdictions require CO detectors by law, the number doing so has been increasing in recent years and will almost certainly continue to increase in the future. Even when not required by law, landlords will be exposed to significant liability if an inadequately vented or improperly maintained device results in injury or death to tenants.
Since detectors can be purchased for as little as $15 each, the prudent landlord will provide them for all units having fossil-fuel burning devices or attached garages. The detectors will go a long way toward preventing serious injury or death and staying out of court. Installation should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in whatever locations as might be required by law.
Inspection of fossil-fuel devices at least once a year is highly recommended, with all necessary adjustments and repairs made immediately. In many areas, the local gas company will inspect gas appliances for free. Even if the landlord must pay for inspection by a qualified professional, the cost will be negligible compared to the judgment that might be handed down by a jury if someone is seriously injured or killed due to failure to properly maintain the devices. As a minimum, for battery-operated units landlords should themselves replace batteries once a year or at such lesser interval as recommended by the manufacturer or required by law.