Conversations on Real Estate

Important news. If you sell your home, you now have to install carbon monoxide alarms. Since January 1, 2011 these alarms have been required for new construction, but now this requirement has been expanded to include all single-family residences being sold.

As of April 1, 2012, this new code is in effect for Washington residents. RCW 19.27.530 requires that any seller of an owner-occupied single-family residence must equip that residence with carbon monoxide alarms before a buyer or any other person may legally occupy the residence following the sale. This requirement applies to all single-family homes, including condominiums and manufactured homes.

The building code (WAC 51-51-0315) lists just how the alarms are to be installed. You have to install these alarms even if you don't have fuel-fired appliances, or attached garages. The places where you install the carbon monoxide alarms is similar to the places where you install smoke detectors.

You also must install these alarms when you make alterations, repairs or additions to your property if you have to get a permit.

The legal bulletin that the NWMLS publishes says: "Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that kills approximately 500 people in the United States every year. Carbon monoxide killed over 1,000 Washington residents between 1990 and 2005. You cannot hear, taste, see or smell carbon monoxide. In many cases of reported carbon monoxide poisoning, victims were aware they were not well, but became so disoriented that they were unable to save themselves by either exiting the building or calling for assistance. Young children and household pets are typically the first affected.

Carbon monoxide alarms are intended to trigger at carbon monoxide levels below those that cause a loss of ability to react to the danger of carbon monoxide exposure."

So, if you are preparing to put your home on the market you might as well go ahead and install these alarms now.