Is Pressurized Co2 Totally Safe?

[Ben M]

hi, i want to add pressurized co2 to my 4ft tank in my bedroom, but my mum is worried that it is unsafe. is that true?
also, are diy ones totally safe once setup?
thanks

 

[Truck]

If you're careful you'll be fine, they're dangerous in the same way that a knife is, if your careful you wont cut your hand off.

Its no different to an off the shelf CO2 kit. They're safe once set up providing the reg isn't damaged or knocked, so make sure it cant fall over

 

[Ben M]

hi, so is there any chance of it exploding or anything like that? i'm allowed an air rifle and a swiss army knife, so i don't really see the problem. but my mum is reluctant.

 

[Truck]

no, it will only explode if you throw it on the fire

 

[Ben M]

thanks, i'll show my mum this.
any other opinions?

 

[Mikaila31]

Its safe IMO. Do be careful for leaks though as it is CO2 and your room is a somewhat closed area. That said it takes a LOT of CO2 to harm you. Most likely wayy more than your tank will be able to provide. When my 1 and 2.5 lb tanks get low I vent them in to the room and I have not had any issues with that. It is good to know though that high CO2 levels will put out flames(lighter/matches won't light or hold a flame) they will also make you sleepy.

The only real danger with them is the tank. If ruptured it can do some damage as the CO2 can propel it into/through stuff. But we usually don't need to worry about this as we tend to run small canisters usually they are 10lbs or below. I doubt the would move. Large canisters should be chained down though. On top of that canisters don't rupture on their own. You would need to shoot it or do something else crazy like throw it in a fire.

If it helps I run my 2.5lb CO2 tank in a daycare. Its in the stand cabinet which has those child locks, but thats really it. IMO its safer than my canister filter. Multiple times I've had a new kid pull the clasps that keep it sealed/ connect the hoses. Due to this it sits in a rubbermaid bin. Which is my lame attempt to contain a couple gallons of the 10+gallons it lets out all over the floor.

 

[Amunet]

Oh I was worried about all of that at first. OMG what if it explodes! Leaks! Shoots off across the room/through the roof! lol
It's been totally fine though. We started off with a little 5lb canister, but soon found out that it didn't last too long in a 6ft long tank. So we upgraded to a 20lb tank and it's still going strong after 7 months.

 

[theshadowinc]

I to run a pressurized co2 setup, being an Auto Service Tech I am use to having them around, me having kids that are young and having one in the house kinda hit my nerves we all know what kids are like. But mine sits under the tank. I would go with a real tank learn the msds for it and you should be set know that I have witness a dump of a tank and I don't mean end of tank dump, I mean the pressure release valve built into the tank let go(Its a built in safty device on the tank on the valve), all it does is fill the room with co2, really I am sure you have co2 in your house if you have a fire extinguisher, same stuff thats in it. Really they are harmless its like what someone said about a knife.

Besides thats why you came here you want help on the situation and that is what all us experienced people are here for, and you are young and allowed a riffle that is more dangerous than a co2 tank!
First thing you do with a knife is learn to use it properly
First thing you do with a Riffle is learn the safty of the weapon
First thing you do with compressed co2 is learn about it

(Tell your mom I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old and have 1 in the house already and my 6 year old is getting her own planted tank soon and a co2 tank at the age of 6)

MSDS Information (Material Safety Data Sheet)
http/www.uigi.com/MSDS_gaseous_CO2.html
Just remember if you have a fire in your house make sure you tell the fire fighters this when they arrive they do need to know you have compressed co2, usually they assume this due to fire extinguishers having co2 in them.