Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and non-irritating gas produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels. Fuel-burning appliances — like your furnace, Roof top Unit, Hot Water Tank or Boiler — normally produce insignificant amounts of carbon monoxide, unless they are not used or maintained properly.
We often hear of Heating appliances being locked off due to a “Crack” in the Heat Exchanger. This is not a tactic to sell more parts to the customer, it is a safety concern and should not be taken lightly. During an inspection on your gas appliance, a technician will visually inspect your “heat exchanger” for noticable cracks. A crack in the heat exchanger will cause air from your blower to enter the heat exchanger and “distort” the flame causing “Incomplete Combustion”. Incomplete Combustion creates Carbon Monoxide. This in turn leaks through the cracks and back into the air-stream which enters your living space.
Another way a Tech may determine cracks in your heat exchanger would be to use a “Combustion Analyzer”. The analyzer measures your “flue” products and gives a reading as to how the burner is operating. If the Carbon Monoxide is above 200+ppm then odds are your Heat exchanger is fouled or cracked! Although they should inspect further to ensure that there is no other issues with the furnace that may cause higher then normal CO levels. A burner not set up properly or blocked venting may also cause your furnace to produce higher then normal CO.
We recommend all buildings/houses have CO detectors!
Gas Piping and Gas Appliances.
Did you know that is your responsibility as a building operator/owner to maintain all your gas lines and appliances downstream of your gas meter. By code your gas lines and gas appliances according to TSSA must be in safe operating condition. This includes such items as “Heat Exchangers” and safety limits within your gas appliance. Your gas pipe must be protected from the elements inside and outside your building, this is why it must be painted outside your building. Your gas lines must also be properly supported by code. Your gas supplier might inform you of a building audit, this is becoming much more frequent. It is to ensure the building they are providing gas for is safe! This is why it is important to have a maitenance program in place. We as a company will inform you of any possible violations that are present