ULPT Request: Cause my CO detector to go off
Posted by LiliSandalwood@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 37 comments
I moved into a 400sqft basement apartment with 1 “bedroom”. I have 1 window in the kitchen that is probably 1’ tall and 2’ wide. I’m in a state that starts with N and this is technically illegal as I only have 1 exit and have 1 portable AC unit for venting. Problem is I don’t want to get legal with it and I really need to keep living here, but I do want to complain about ventilation issues. I figure if the CO detector goes off, that’s a valid concern. Obv I don’t want to gas myself out, I’m not trying to give myself or my cat CO poisoning. So outside of low batteries I’m trying to figure out how to cause it to start beeping to convince my landlord I need more air. I guess other ULPT that would make ventilation issues seem valid are also welcome.
PissDiskANDLiquidAss@reddit
The best I can think of is requesting a better portable ac from them.
MjrGrangerDanger@reddit
Dull_Banana1377@reddit
The only way to add more ventilation is to dig a hole and then rip a chunk of wall out. You wouldnt be able to live there while they do that. They would have to add an emergency escape window.
yankykiwi@reddit
And they would just kick em out and get someone without those needs
Dull_Banana1377@reddit
Theres away to prevent that. OP needs to contact the local fire Marshall
el_bentzo@reddit
Wouldnt a fire Marshall just declare people cant live there?
No_Educator_6376@reddit
CO2 canisters are available at well stocked cooking supply stores used to make whipped cream crack one open next to the sensor
BubblebreathDragon@reddit
FYI: Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are not the same thing
No_Educator_6376@reddit
Then use the chainsaw indoors and the lawnmower
zestycunt@reddit
Don’t use co2 canisters. Need to put a box around the co monitor and burn wet wood. But it’ll smell like fire. Not super easy to generate co safely really
Necromartian@reddit
I mean, pouring baking soda in to vinegar will release CO2. I don't know what else to offer.
BreakfastTequila@reddit
Sounds like it’s just a dude renting you a basement and not some big corporate entity that’s afraid of being sued and has money. Dude will just ask you to leave and rent to someone more chill. I assume your rent is cheap and the guy isn’t looking to invent 2-5K on installing a window.
Not_Hunter1307@reddit
spam this number 4069269177
DivineDisassociation@reddit
You’re in a basement. What do you expect them to do? Rip a hole in the wall to add another window?
Find a new place to live or get a fan
DanCoco@reddit
Google the make and model and i'm sure there's a video of one going off. Play the audio when they're there.
FormidableMistress@reddit
Yeah I'm gonna go ahead and agree with everybody else and say if you make any kind of fuss at all you'll be out of a place to live. Years ago I rented a "room" in a house that had been added onto a bunch of times. It had only one door and no windows. I knew it obviously wasn't up to code, but I had to find a place to live. I was incredibly lucky I wasn't home when it burned down because I wouldn't have been able to escape.
Don't cause yourself undue grief. Get a fan and keep your head down until you can find a better place to live.
5c044@reddit
You should get a good co2 detector instead - one with that uses an ndir or laser scattering sensor not an electrochemical one. You can look up recommended ppm levels. atmospheric co2 is about 500ppm, I like top open my bedroom window to get below 1000 when I sleep, there are other numbers in the low thousands for workplace/school rooms. Even go one step further and get an air quality sensor that has a good co2 sensor and VOC sensor. This all assumes that you want accurate readings for your own benefit and to try to convince the landlord, if you want truly unethical can a air quality sensor with a crappy co2 sensor and it will get elevated from other things other than co2 - cooking fumes, aerosols, vapes, air fresheners etc.
High CO will get you moved out for safety, high CO2 is more of a comfort long term health thing
Pleasant-Regular6169@reddit
check out Bernoulli's principle https://youtube.com/shorts/92e4SoDfua0
a small fan a little distance from the window can be super helpful.
froggythefrankman@reddit
You gotta paint someone head to toe in black and have them play the same note as the C02 detector on a recorder.
erisod@reddit
What do you think can be done to improve it?
Immediate_Cake9151@reddit
You are gonna die in that basement oh Jesus please be careful
Airplade@reddit
Pack your bags before you do. No landlord is going to bother with you.
NullGWard@reddit
If the carbon monoxide alarm keeps going off but the source cannot be found, the most logical thing for the landlord to do is to shut down your apartment. The legal risk to landlord is too great. People have died by ignoring possible carbon monoxide. It will not occur to the landlord that (1) it's fake or (2) thousands of dollars should be spent to install more ventilation.
lr99999@reddit
How old is it? They can expire.
bjketter@reddit
They will stop renting the plane rather than build additional ventilation. Adding simmering like that would probably be more than a couple years rent.
bjketter@reddit
The cost of what you are looking for just cost someone I know 30k in a fairly low cost labor state.
Laserdollarz@reddit
Your landlord will tell you to get a fan.
My apartment gets stuffy, it has terrible ventilation. I stick a box fan in my fireplace opening, it pulls air in from every window and very quickly replaces most of the air in the apartment.
I mean uhhhh stick some piss discs in your CO detector so the maintenance guys get smelly fingers, that'll definitely get you a 2nd window
Teweview@reddit
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GENESIS-Twin-Window-Fan-with-9-in-Blades-Adjustable-Thermostat-and-Max-Cool-Technology-ETL-Certified-A1WINDOWFAN/302475152
How about just get something like this. One fan can blow in one can blow out. Then toss a fan in the middle of the apartment. That should get plenty of ventilation
partylikeitis1799@reddit
I truly think that your landlords are much more likely to just tell you to leave rather than spend thousands on adding ventilation, which they would have to do themselves shoddily or risk a professional seeing the illegal basement apartment.
Quirky-Invite7664@reddit
What exactly are you wanting them to do? Add a window? That’s unlikely to happen.
sitheandroid@reddit
It's a standard test for CO detectors to expose them to smoke from a smouldering piece of paper or extinguished candle wick.
Capable_Victory_7807@reddit
maybe try a bowl of dry ice?
getjustin@reddit
That's CO2
Capable_Victory_7807@reddit
yes, I know, but when I looked it up it says it may trigger the alarm due to the 'fog'
fuuckimlate@reddit
If it's unsafe they will make you leave
realdappermuis@reddit
I've had some smoke detectors go off when I sprayed isopropyl near it. Worth a try
But ...I would caution against complaining if you want to remain there. It's easier for them to ask you to leave than to solve a problem. You could perhaps request a fan that you can direct to blow steam etc out the window if you cook or shower
I_Want_A_Ribeye@reddit
Hairspray near it might set it off as a false alarm.