Carbon monoxide in apt rentals -- what safety measures do you look for?

Bring one with you.

I did some quick research. since 2013, something greater than 2 billion Airbnb bookings have resulted in 13 alleged carbon monoxide deaths.

Also keep in mind that a lot of those bookings are all electric making carbon monoxide poisonings very unlikely (would have to drift in from another unit).

But portable units are cheap, small and light and if it makes you feel better do get one. Also a smoke detector is probably not a bad idea for you. And not just for Airbnb's for hotels as well. I dont remember the exact details but there were a number of carbon monoxide deaths at a resort hotel a few years ago.

And before you rent, ask. All electric? No?, then you have a carbon monoxide detector? How about a smoke detector? Alarm system on the door and windows?

And not just for Airbnb's for hotels as well. I dont remember the exact details but there were a number of carbon monoxide deaths at a resort hotel a few years ago.

I was wondering if there had been problems at hotels, but now that you mention it, I remember the story of those deaths. Wasn't it a big family get-together in Mexico?

Maybe I am making too much of it, but I guess it would be fairly easy to slip a portable CM detector in your luggage. :)

Mexico or the Caribbean ... dont remember. If it makes you more comfortable to bring something there is nothing wrong with it.

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-portable-carbon-monoxide-detectors-for-travel/

Carbon monoxide poisoning does happen in hotels. It’s a relatively regular news item here. These aren’t hotels in the U.K. but the victims are British tourists in hotels overseas.

Carbon monoxide detectors are small and cheap if you want to travel with one. They are quite common in British homes because we nearly all have gas boilers. Any rental property should be safe because there are laws about regular boiler maintenance and inspection.

In assessing risk, Europe is probably safer in regards to Carbon Monoxide than most homes in the US. The reason is regulatory efforts to shift to all electric appliances and services. I can't recall the last time I stayed someplace with any gas items, stove electric, water heater electric, heat electric, usually integrated into a split AC system. No Gas, no CO.

So in that regard, Carbon Monoxide detection is really a non-issue in my European travels, and I never give it a thought to clutter my bag with a portable detector.

"In Europe" is never true.

I live in a major European capital and I can assure you, because of type of work that I do, that the vast majority of all single family residences (read "short term rental") are partially or completely dependent upon gas for heat and / or hot water.

The majority of those are totally out-of compliance with current codes.

Of course you are staying in places with air conditioning which means rare in my part of the world. And yes, if it has AC its been renovated and is no longer the norm in many places.

On the other hand I am certain, for the same reasons, you would have a hard time finding out of compliance gas homes in my prior US home city.

I actually became aware of this a few years ago from a Trip Advisor post where someone (an out of stater) was outraged that an Air BnB/VRBO/rental condo at an Idaho ski resort didn't list CO2 detectors on the amenities. I hadn't realized that was a thing.

There was also a university student who tragically died this week in the Seattle area of CO2 poisoning in university housing.

I do like to crack windows in hotel rooms so hopefully that would be enough fresh air to offset any nasties. I don't usually rent self-catering apartments although I might if I do an extended stay somewhere.

Good topic, Mardee!

Thanks, Pam! I really might think about bringing one of those portable detectors with me (thanks for the link, Rebecca!!), since I'm staying at a self-catering cottage in North Yorkshire for 7 days on my next trip.. And that's also a good idea about cracking open windows, Pam, especially since I sleep better in colder air.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this! Very helpful!

Mardee, the idea of a holiday is enjoyment and if a few extra precautions add to the enjoyment, then go for it. You can not do wrong. To be honest, while the number who have died is almost statistically zero, I have stayed in so many questionable places in Europe (the unfortunate result of being in a business that deals with such issues) i may end up buying a portable detector myself.

And 74% of the homes in the UK are heated by gas, so good chance your rental will be too.

"In Europe" is never true.

In this case it is really not true. I, on the other hand, live in Sweden where gas heated houses exist but are extremely rare. In 2016, gas was responsible for less than 1% of building heating in Sweden. And I guess it's even less now.

Mardee

Any rental property in this country should be safe. It’s a legal requirement for holiday lets to have a carbon monoxide detector and for boiler inspections to be carried out annually. The property needs to have a Gas Safe certificate.

AirBnB requires hosts to install smoke detectors. We rent out a flat on AirBnB and we do have smoke detectors in most rooms, and they are even networked, so that a fire in one part of the house would result in the whole house being woken up.

We also have a Carbon Monoxide detector in the living room, as there is a wood stove, and it is quite possible for us (or for our guests) to go to bed with a fire still going.

But the central heating itself is electric, as is quite common in Switzerland.

Helen I have no doubt. My home town is a collection of 75 to 150 year old apartment blocks; many of which haven't been renovated since Stalin was calling the shots. But people aren't dying that I have heard of. My home is all electric but that's rare and expensive to operate.

I have been carrying a very compact smoke detector for a few years now after staying in an Air BNB that did not have one despite having stated so in the listing. Since then, I have seen a number of similar situations with respect to smoke detectors. So far, I have been lucky and all the apartments I have stayed in have been all electric. But I think I may look for a small carbon monoxide detector.,.

I take my smoke detector it in my personal pack since it has a lithium battery. However, every time prior to my last trip that ended a few weeks ago I put it through security I was asked to take it out so they can look at it.

Now I just put it in the bin outside of the pack and I sail through. Much easier. I imagine it will be the same for a carbon dioxide detector.

Helen, thanks so much! Very good to know!

I bring a detector to developing regions, where the problem is far more common. Europe nah, so many other ways you'll die first, fortunately ;)

Developing regions: Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia & Herzegivina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania. All of which I suspect you have a very good chance of ending up in accommodations with gas heat or gas water boilers that are very old and suspect.

Good to know, Mr. E - thanks!

And Hank, ha ha! I'm sure you're right.

You know, never occurred to me to get a detector till this post. I have done some renovation work in one of the countries I listed and visited most of the others and they appear very similar to my renovation experience. By 21st century standards there is a lot of questionable real estate out there. Maybe I buy one for trips other than the wealthiest European countries.

Well, a smart ... RS contributor remembered two past similar conversations on the subject in which I Said the same things and promised that I would buy a detector.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/carbon-monoxide-detector-for-travel-d76cba80-53fe-47fb-be33-e2a3ad968e8e

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/smoke-carbon-monoxide-sensor

I am just getting senile

Ha ha! You gave good advice before, Mr. E.

I guess I could have done a search before posting, too, although I do feel a bit better knowing I'm not the only paranoid person out there.