Residents Buy Carbon Monoxide Alarms At Last Minute

Indio resident Helen Bos came to Home Depot just in time Thursday.

There was one day left before the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Act, also known as Senate Bill 183, became law.

“The truth is: I didn’t even know it was the law,” Bos said. “I bought a new house two years ago in August, and I assumed everything should have been right.”

Bos was not alone. Home Depot employee Dick Bossi said sales of the carbon monoxide alarms were simply steady.

“It’s a procrastination thing,” he said. “People do this last minute.”

The home improvement store set up a table near the front entrance to remind customers about the new rule, even if they were hearing about it for the first time.

“I would think about a gas leak,” said Jerry Montgomery, of Indio. “[But] carbon monoxide escaped me until I saw it on the news.”

Enforcing the new law may be difficult. According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, it doesn’t have the resources for every firefighter to inspect every home in the state.

The State Fire Marshal will be pushing the new law through education.

This new law is crucial for landlords. If tenants get sick or die from carbon monoxide poisoning — and there are no devices installed — landlords could be held responsible.

The fire marshal recommends installing an alarm in each bedroom and on every floor of a home.

Multiple-dwelling units, such as a condominium or apartment complex, have until Jan. 1, 2013, to comply.