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Mink Islander · 03-09-2009, 10:33 AM

CO has the same molecular weight at Nitrogen -- which makes up nearly 80% of air, but is lighter than O2, the other main component of the air around us. All things being equal (same temps, no air currents, etc.), the CO would tend to blend with the air such that you wouldn't find a material difference in CO concentrations in one place vs another in the same closed room.

However, car emissions will almost certainly be much warmer than the surrounding air so the CO will rise (warmer gases are lighter). It still may not matter much since garages tend to be drafty so all the gases are getting mixed around all the time. But if I only had 2 choices: Place the detector really high or really low, I'd go with really high.

03-09-2009, 10:33 AM	#3
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Probably doesn't matter but.... CO has the same molecular weight at Nitrogen -- which makes up nearly 80% of air, but is lighter than O2, the other main component of the air around us. All things being equal (same temps, no air currents, etc.), the CO would tend to blend with the air such that you wouldn't find a material difference in CO concentrations in one place vs another in the same closed room. However, car emissions will almost certainly be much warmer than the surrounding air so the CO will rise (warmer gases are lighter). It still may not matter much since garages tend to be drafty so all the gases are getting mixed around all the time. But if I only had 2 choices: Place the detector really high or really low, I'd go with really high.