1. Information About Carbon Monoxide
• Automobiles, furnaces, gas ranges/stoves, gas clothes dryers, water
heaters, portable fuel burning space heaters and generators, fireplaces,
wood-burning stoves and certain swimming pool heaters.
• Blocked chimneys or flues, back drafts and changes in air pressure, cor-
roded or disconnected vent pipes, loose or cracked furnace
exchangers.
• Vehicles and other combustion engines running in an open or
closed garage, attached or near a home.
• Burning charcoal or fuel in grills and hibachis in an enclosed area.
Conditions That Can Produce Carbon Monoxide
The following conditions can result in transient CO situations:
• Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel-burning appliances caused
by outdoor ambient conditions, such as, wind direction and/or veloc-
ity, including high gusts of wind, heavy air in the vent pipes (cold/
humid air with extended periods between cycles).
• Negative pressure resulting from the use of exhaust fans.
• Simultaneous operation of several fuel-burning appliances competing
for limited internal air.
• Vent pipe connections vibrating loose from clothes dryers, furnaces, or
water heaters.
• Obstructions in, or unconventional, vent pipe designs which can
amplify the above situations.
• Extended operation of unvented fuel-burning devices (range, oven,
fireplace, etc.).
• Temperature inversions which can trap exhaust gases near the
ground.
• Vehicle idling in an open or closed garage, or near a home.
To be safe, know the possible sources of CO in your home. Keep fuel-
burning appliances and their chimneys and vents in good working
condition. Learn the early symptoms of exposure, and if you suspect CO
poisoning, move outside to fresh air and get emergency help. Your first
line of defense is an annual inspection and regular maintenance of your
appliances. Contact a licensed contractor or call your local utility com-
pany for assistance.
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