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Post by rmc on Nov 15, 2020 12:15:41 GMT
www.amazon.com/Propane-Natural-Detector-Monitor-Combustible/dp/B0776JTF59/?tag=goodhousekeeping_auto-append-20&ascsubtag=[artid|10055.g.32010999[src|[ch|[lt|I have a home where, unfortunately, the natural-gas-supplied HVAC & water heater are located right out in the middle of the floor space of the home. It's all in a closet, centrally positioned in the home, same floor I live on. In fact it's just next door to my bedroom. I'm going to get a natural gas detector and know that 5 parts per million combustible gas is considered the threshold on safety. Two things though: 1) is that some federal standard that is likely not as good as it could be? In other words, is some number lower than that really the safer number that we should all hold to. And, 2), could I show 5 parts per million or less, but since it's a slight seeping leak, it builds up over time somewhere in the home? Basically, we put in new windows, having replaced windows that were 55 years old. I'm actually a little concerned that we've managed to seal ourselves into a seemingly airtight situation with a minor seep that now is a big problem. Furthermore, I'm wondering what detector to get such that it can best detect a minor seep (that a less sensitive detectors would miss, of course) Thanks! Hoping to clear my mind in more ways than one!!
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Post by GTCGreg on Nov 15, 2020 14:25:22 GMT
www.amazon.com/Propane-Natural-Detector-Monitor-Combustible/dp/B0776JTF59/?tag=goodhousekeeping_auto-append-20&ascsubtag=[artid|10055.g.32010999[src|[ch|[lt|I have a home where, unfortunately, the natural-gas-supplied HVAC & water heater are located right out in the middle of the floor space of the home. It's all in a closet, centrally positioned in the home, same floor I live on. In fact it's just next door to my bedroom. I'm going to get a natural gas detector and know that 5 parts per million combustible gas is considered the threshold on safety. Two things though: 1) is that some federal standard that is likely not as good as it could be? In other words, is some number lower than that really the safer number that we should all hold to. And, 2), could I show 5 parts per million or less, but since it's a slight seeping leak, it builds up over time somewhere in the home? Basically, we put in new windows, having replaced windows that were 55 years old. I'm actually a little concerned that we've managed to seal ourselves into a seemingly airtight situation with a minor seep that now is a big problem. Furthermore, I'm wondering what detector to get such that it can best detect a minor seep (that a less sensitive detectors would miss, of course) Thanks! Hoping to clear my mind in more ways than one!! Five ppm is pretty low. I don’t think a leak below that threshold would cause any problem either as an explosion hazard or health issue. Other than right around a leak, natural gas doesn’t tend to stay concentrated in one area. LP gas, however, is quite a bit heavier than air and can pool in low areas such as a basement or crawl space. Keep in mind that having a natural gas detector is no excuse for not also having a CO detector. CO is much more dangerous than natural gas from a health standpoint. Even a small amount can be deadly over time. I really think you’re working yourself up into a dither over nothing. Get a gas detector and unless it goes off, forget about it. PS How has the noise issue been since your upstairs neighbor moved out? |
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Post by rmc on Nov 15, 2020 15:02:08 GMT
Carbon monoxide detectors we have. Two. But, I called the utilities company anyway, and they were just here. They found nothing out of the ordinary.
I'll still get more detectors anyway.
It's all the forgetfulness and insomnia that I'm concerned with. Too many possible causes for the general ill state I find myself in.
For instance, I switch off a light, leave the room and IMMEDIATELY wonder if I just switched off the light or not. No memory of it at all. Quite scary.
I did get medicine for nighttime panic attacks when, really, I should have been treating sleep apnea instead. Plus, I poorly weened off the benzodiazepine such that the seizure I had required me being put under observation in a "rubber room". Never did feel right after that. It's been nearly five years, but it's still the "hangover" that never ends. Some say improperly messing with certain benzos can eventually lead to Alzheimers. I can believe that!
And now I have cancers that keep showing up. Just basal cell, but all over the place on my head! Feels like something in my sinus too. Deep in sinus passage, the airway sticks together after I fall asleep. And, sleep apnea, though treated now, could be better dealt with. So, I have no clue what's wrong. Maybe a combination of everything.
I'll update that other thread regarding the never-ending drama going on with the bed-shed sleep containment unit!
Thanks again.
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Post by the light works on Nov 15, 2020 16:51:43 GMT
the phone app that used to be so useful, now just pulls up the ERG page, which is good for emergency management, but not as informative as the full data sheet. but the short answer is the LEL/UEL tables try to err on the side of safety, and it gets pretty stinky by the time you reach the LEL. also, gas company detectors are supposed to be much more sensitive than that. like near-zero tolerance sensitive.
that said, I agree with greg that natural gas is lighter than air, and if your furnace and water heater draw combustion air out of the closet, and particularly if it is a natural draft metal flue, as contrasted with a power vent on the water heater, it will probably self ventilate well enough to not have any buildup, unless you have an actual quantifiable leak. but a natural gas detector in or just outside that room would qualify as relatively cheap peace of mind.
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Post by the light works on Nov 15, 2020 16:56:12 GMT
it bears mentioning that if there IS a natural gas infiltration, don't make any changes inside - go outside and call 911, and if there is a service disconnect for power OUTSIDE the unit, that can be shut off, and also don't ventilate without disabling the heating system. (one of our neighboring departments blew up a house by opening the windows before the furnace was shut down. - then they recorded a training video for everyone else)
[/PSA]
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Post by GTCGreg on Nov 15, 2020 20:39:21 GMT
I know what you mean about those “memory moments.“ I’ve been having quite a few of them lately. It’s not forgetting to do some thing I need to do, but forgetting that I have already done it. Just yesterday I was thinking of making a cup of coffee but then saw the mail lady pull up so decided to go out and get the mail. When I got back, I figured I’d make that cup of coffee. Much to my surprise, when I went to the coffee maker, I found a fresh cup already made. I have no recollection of making it but I was the only one here.
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Post by rmc on Nov 15, 2020 21:16:35 GMT
I know what you mean about those “memory moments.“ I’ve been having quite a few of them lately. It’s not forgetting to do some thing I need to do, but forgetting that I have already done it. Just yesterday I was thinking of making a cup of coffee but then saw the mail lady pull up so decided to go out and get the mail. When I got back, I figured I’d make that cup of coffee. Much to my surprise, when I went to the coffee maker, I found a fresh cup already made. I have no recollection of making it but I was the only one here. Sounds like you had a few minutes to forget at least. My hand just leaving the light switch, closing the door, and then not being sure if I'd just done that or not a split second later is quite alarming to me. I have doctors constantly telling I'm just getting old, but then in benzo rehab a lot of people tell me that few can or will be able to see what it's like, with their usually attributing it to things like age. To me, I can actually remember the specific day when things got like this for me. It was sudden. I remind my doctor of that fact constantly, hoping he could see then that it's not merely aging alone. It's horrible all the side effects. It's not just iffy memory and insomnia. It's more horrible having medical types not get it or know what to do... "time heals". Okay, WHEN!? |
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Post by wvengineer on Nov 15, 2020 22:09:59 GMT
A quick search of Amazon came up with plenty of options for explosive gas detectors. I am not finding much info on what their triggering threshold is. You can probably get that from the manufacturer if you look for it. You could look at your local home improvment store to see what they carry in house. If $50 helps you sleep better, go for it. www.amazon.com/dp/B0002EVNJ6 |
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Post by GTCGreg on Nov 16, 2020 2:38:45 GMT
I know what you mean about those “memory moments.“ I’ve been having quite a few of them lately. It’s not forgetting to do some thing I need to do, but forgetting that I have already done it. Just yesterday I was thinking of making a cup of coffee but then saw the mail lady pull up so decided to go out and get the mail. When I got back, I figured I’d make that cup of coffee. Much to my surprise, when I went to the coffee maker, I found a fresh cup already made. I have no recollection of making it but I was the only one here. Sounds like you had a few minutes to forget at least. My hand just leaving the light switch, closing the door, and then not being sure if I'd just done that or not a split second later is quite alarming to me. I have doctors constantly telling I'm just getting old, but then in benzo rehab a lot of people tell me that few can or will be able to see what it's like, with their usually attributing it to things like age. To me, I can actually remember the specific day when things got like this for me. It was sudden. I remind my doctor of that fact constantly, hoping he could see then that it's not merely aging alone. It's horrible all the side effects. It's not just iffy memory and insomnia. It's more horrible having medical types not get it or know what to do... "time heals". Okay, WHEN!? I think that some things that we do frequently are so automatic that it just doesn't register that we did them. Like switching off a light. Sounds like maybe I'm just making too much coffee that the process has become automatic. As long as you're not constantly finding your keys in the fridge, I wouldn't worry about it. |
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Post by rmc on Nov 16, 2020 12:41:00 GMT
Trouble is, I've basically done stuff like that too.
I used the light switch only as the most recent example.
It's embarrassing but, just exactly like one of those horrible dreams I left my front door of my apartment having forgotten to put on my khaki shorts (Summer).
Very frequently I stand up, setting out to do what obviously must be done, then realize I no longer know what it is I needed to do.
As I say, the seizure of February 6, 2016 life suddenly became like this for me. Before then, my mind worked reliably. I was breezing through physics & calculus courses in college, something I'd hoped to do my whole life and could now "afford" because of the GI Bill. Now, it's very, very different. And became so suddenly. Aging sneaks up on you usually. This hit me like a brick wall.
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Post by the light works on Nov 16, 2020 13:56:17 GMT
Trouble is, I've basically done stuff like that too. I used the light switch only as the most recent example. It's embarrassing but, just exactly like one of those horrible dreams I left my front door of my apartment having forgotten to put on my khaki shorts (Summer). Very frequently I stand up, setting out to do what obviously must be done, then realize I no longer know what it is I needed to do. As I say, the seizure of February 6, 2016 life suddenly became like this for me. Before then, my mind worked reliably. I was breezing through physics & calculus courses in college, something I'd hoped to do my whole life and could now "afford" because of the GI Bill. Now, it's very, very different. And became so suddenly. Aging sneaks up on you usually. This hit me like a brick wall. if it makes you feel better, in a "misery loves company" sort of way, Mrs T's medical crisis back around 08 affected her much the same way. (mentally speaking. |
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Post by GTCGreg on Nov 16, 2020 15:16:36 GMT
Trouble is, I've basically done stuff like that too. I used the light switch only as the most recent example. It's embarrassing but, just exactly like one of those horrible dreams I left my front door of my apartment having forgotten to put on my khaki shorts (Summer). Very frequently I stand up, setting out to do what obviously must be done, then realize I no longer know what it is I needed to do. As I say, the seizure of February 6, 2016 life suddenly became like this for me. Before then, my mind worked reliably. I was breezing through physics & calculus courses in college, something I'd hoped to do my whole life and could now "afford" because of the GI Bill. Now, it's very, very different. And became so suddenly. Aging sneaks up on you usually. This hit me like a brick wall. if it makes you feel better, in a "misery loves company" sort of way, Mrs T's medical crisis back around 08 affected her much the same way. (mentally speaking. I wish I had an exchuse other than worn out brain cells. |
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Post by rmc on Nov 16, 2020 15:18:58 GMT
Trouble is, I've basically done stuff like that too. I used the light switch only as the most recent example. It's embarrassing but, just exactly like one of those horrible dreams I left my front door of my apartment having forgotten to put on my khaki shorts (Summer). Very frequently I stand up, setting out to do what obviously must be done, then realize I no longer know what it is I needed to do. As I say, the seizure of February 6, 2016 life suddenly became like this for me. Before then, my mind worked reliably. I was breezing through physics & calculus courses in college, something I'd hoped to do my whole life and could now "afford" because of the GI Bill. Now, it's very, very different. And became so suddenly. Aging sneaks up on you usually. This hit me like a brick wall. if it makes you feel better, in a "misery loves company" sort of way, Mrs T's medical crisis back around 08 affected her much the same way. (mentally speaking. Naturally, I'm very sorry to hear that, of course! What I want is an ability to find someone who knows what to do about it, if there is anything to be done about it. There is this Canadian Mental Health expert who said he made the same mistake with benzos. He went all over the world finding appropriate help for the problem. I don't know if that's actually required, but now he claims to be on the mend. But, since the freakin VA didn't follow its own guidelines (cautiously testing me for sleep apnea first before handing me a bunch of psych pills, -- as their own checklist shows right on their computer screen!), now I get a bunch of "ah, you're fine" type help because they don't want to admit their f up. Benzo support groups can only do so much. |
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Post by the light works on Nov 16, 2020 15:36:52 GMT
hopefully the change in administrations will also restart the improvements in the VA system, that were quietly allowed to lapse because there was no glory in them.
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Post by rmc on Nov 16, 2020 16:05:57 GMT
hopefully the change in administrations will also restart the improvements in the VA system, that were quietly allowed to lapse because there was no glory in them. To me, the administration has basically no bearing. I was given the junk without proper screening in 2009. 2016, February, I wasn't weened appropriately. By 2018 complaining about side effects were met with a stone wall, etc. I hold no president or cabinet responsible. How much can they really know about the inner workings of one of the largest government departments at any one given time? When, during 2014, people started to die from extremely long wait times for care, to me, that was all on the VA, not Obama. |
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Post by GTCGreg on Nov 16, 2020 16:56:11 GMT
hopefully the change in administrations will also restart the improvements in the VA system, that were quietly allowed to lapse because there was no glory in them. To me, the administration has basically no bearing. I was given the junk without proper screening in 2009. 2016, February, I wasn't weened appropriately. By 2018 complaining about side effects were met with a stone wall, etc. I hold no president or cabinet responsible. How much can they really know about the inner workings of one of the largest government departments at any one given time? When, during 2014, people started to die from extremely long wait times for care, to me, that was all on the VA, not Obama. Admitting you have a problem is always the first step in correcting the problem. At least the present administration pointed to the VA and said, we have a problem here. |
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Post by the light works on Nov 16, 2020 17:01:26 GMT
hopefully the change in administrations will also restart the improvements in the VA system, that were quietly allowed to lapse because there was no glory in them. To me, the administration has basically no bearing. I was given the junk without proper screening in 2009. 2016, February, I wasn't weened appropriately. By 2018 complaining about side effects were met with a stone wall, etc. I hold no president or cabinet responsible. How much can they really know about the inner workings of one of the largest government departments at any one given time? When, during 2014, people started to die from extremely long wait times for care, to me, that was all on the VA, not Obama. the VA has always been lower quality care than the concierge level care the government enjoys, but sometimes administrations work to reduce the gap, and other times they don't. an uncharitable person might suggest if politicians got their healthcare through the VA system, there might be a substantial and deserved improvement. but the bottom line is, VA healthcare is better than it once was, but there's still room for improvement, and the quality of healthcare is one of the issues that is important to me. |
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Post by the light works on Nov 16, 2020 17:04:26 GMT
To me, the administration has basically no bearing. I was given the junk without proper screening in 2009. 2016, February, I wasn't weened appropriately. By 2018 complaining about side effects were met with a stone wall, etc. I hold no president or cabinet responsible. How much can they really know about the inner workings of one of the largest government departments at any one given time? When, during 2014, people started to die from extremely long wait times for care, to me, that was all on the VA, not Obama. Admitting you have a problem is always the first step in correcting the problem. At least the present administration pointed to the VA and said, we have a problem here. actually, he said, "nobody has done more for veterans than me" sound familiar? |
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Post by GTCGreg on Nov 16, 2020 18:22:09 GMT
Admitting you have a problem is always the first step in correcting the problem. At least the present administration pointed to the VA and said, we have a problem here. actually, he said, "nobody has done more for veterans than me" sound familiar? Compared to others, he may be right. |
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Post by the light works on Nov 16, 2020 20:44:13 GMT
actually, he said, "nobody has done more for veterans than me" sound familiar? Compared to others, he may be right. only if you don't count the ones who have done more, which is also a pretty familiar sentiment. |
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