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COMBUSTION AIR/INDOOR ,HUMIDITY
(How. They Affect Your Safety and Comfort)
.!
An energy efficient home or a home using exhaus_
fans, fireplaces, clothes dryers, and gas appliances in-
creases this problem and your appliances could be
starving for air, which is unsafe.
This'_ay result in more and more air being drawn from
the house until fresh air is sucked in through an ap-
pliance flue or fireplace chimney. Carbon monoxide
can be the result.
J
Your home needs to breathe and the different
temperatures and humidity ranges in your home dur-
ing the year makes it necessary to be sensitive to air
requirements and potential ventilation problems.
Because of high energy costs for home heating,
new materials and methods are being used in con-
struction and remodeling. The improved construction
and additional insulation has made these homes much
tighter around windows and doors so that air leakage
is minimal. This may create a problem in supplying
enough combustion and ventilation air for gas-fired or
other fuel burning appliances. Fresh air is needed for
combustion and ventilation of flue gases.
Carbon monoxide or "CO" is a colorless and odorless
gas produced when fuel is not burned completely or
when the flame does not receive sufficient oxygen.
CARBON MONOXIDE CAN RESULT IN
ASPHYXIATION.
Be aware of these air starvation signalsi
1. Headaches-Nausea-Dizziness
2. Excessive humidity-Heavily frosted win-
dows or a moist "clammy" feeling in the
home.
3. Smoke from the fireplace won't draw up
the chimney.
4. Flue gases ,won't draw up the appliance
flue pipe.
1. How do I know if my furnace or other appliances are receiving enough
air for proper combustion and ventilation of flue gases?
Use the following checkout procedure to determine
if the air leakage into your home is adequate tosupp-
tyth e needs of your appliances and fireplace. If you
are uncertain about your ability to perform these
checks contact your installing dealer or place of
purchase.
5. Check for draft hood spillage at each appliance.
(Hold a lighted_matCh 2" from draft opening as :
shown for the:typical gas water heaterii :
FIG. 1 CHECK :FOR DRAFT HOOD SPILLAGE
A.
1.
Make the inspection as follows:
Close all doors and windows. If you have a
fireplace, start a fire and wait until flames are bur-
ing vigorously.
2. Turn on all exhausting devices, such as: kitchen
and bathroom exhaust fans - dryers (gas or
electric)
3. Turn on all vented gas appliances, such as: heating
equipment (includes any room heaters) water
heaters.
4. Wait ten (10) minutes for drafts to stabilize.
B. No Spillage -
if match flame pulls toward draft hood, this in-
dicates sufficient infiltration air. Return exhausting
devices and appliances to the condition you found
them.
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