Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
CO 2004-5
Comments
-
If CO is a big problem, how come I have never seen a technician who tunes my furnace every year measure it. He measures CO2, stack temp, tests for sootand draft and comes up with an efficiency. And by the way over the past several years the CO2 content has remained the same but the stack temp keeps going up. What does all this mean?
Finally, what is your personal experience with CO poisoning in oilfired heating systems?0 -
One of the reasons
that CO is such a big problem is that it goes undetected. You said so yourself when you mention that your technician doesn't test for it. He can't test for it because he doesn't have the equipment. There are some who still do not believe that oil produces CO. They are wrong.
I was called to a home a few years ago by a woman that wanted a new boiler. The existing unit was in a utility area located under the stairs to the second floor of the home. (Home was slab on grade) She told me she had the unit serviced every year for the twelve years she had lived there and had the service tickets to prove it. And on those service tickets were all of the readings you mention, CO2, stack temp, smoke, draft and efficiency. No CO.
Well we found that the bottom of her oil fired boiler had burned completely through and that the unit was leaking comnbustion products into her home where she lived with her two young children. I can't say for certain how long the boiler was like this, but I know it didn't happen overnight and was probably like that for years.
She and her children went to the docter and ALL of them had elevated level of Carboxyhemoglobin, consistent with chronic CO poisoning. Her UL listed CO alarms never went off due to the fact that they were never meant to sound an alarm at under 70ppm. They were slowly being poisoned and no-one ever knew it.
I was as ignorant about CO as the next guy until a few years ago when I attended a class about it. It opened my eyes to the potential danger we expose our customers to every time we set something on fire (furnace, boiler, water heater etc..)
If you do not test, there is absolutely no way you can tell whether an appliance is producing high levels of CO or not. They ALL produce some. We need to be absolutely sure that the appliances will burn correctly and draft under worse case scenarios. Turning on exhaust fans and clothes dryers and air handling equipment WHILE we are testing.
If you do not, you are guessing. I choose not to guess, I want to know and so do my customers.
Hope this helps.
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
CO detector
Can someone post the website address for the REAL carbon monoxide detectors.
Can websites on this forum be posted as a link? I always have to cut and paste the websites. Is it just me?
Thanks0 -
CO experts
Sorry, I can't remember how link posting is done.
www.coexperts.com
E-mail me if you have any questions.
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
This one is TRULY frightening
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=2620671
A hospital is evacuated, but the "officials" say they "may never know what caused it."!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Here is a story about Chronic CO poisoning
Starts out well, but ends poorly. A young woman mentions buying a combo CO/smoke alarm because she had a new baby. I guess she didn't read the package where it states that the alarm offers ZERO protection for her child.
http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/1127202004_new05danger.asp
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Isn't nice to know...
that your not even safe in a hospital.
"An air monitoring device helps detect Carbon Monoxide. It did not pick up any traces of the gas inside the hospital."
Since this is a hospital, I'm sure this is a UL-2034 "Certified" monitor system. UL-2034 wins again, HA HA.
Interesting that there was no mention of carbo-oxyhemoglobin testing on the 14 patients that were taken to the other hospital. That of course would have told them whether the strange odor was CO or not, but that of course would have opened up a liability issue.0 -
Mark
So who is in Ohio to be the local voice to inform the press and local media about the truth of the matter? Local folks presenting consise information that can be easily digested by the press, etc. that gets people asking questions. Do you think this could be a way to get (keep) the ball rolling? By the way, what happened to Jennifer at whatever tv station that was?
Is there a national industry association or trade group that could take this issue and put it out there where we (The Wall) believe it belongs? Local and national efforts to change an industry.
Your friend,
Larry (from OSHA)0 -
\"Faulty?\" gas dryer
I recently hada new salesman at the appliance store I work at ask me to help him with a problem. It seems that a manaufacturer's service tech refused to fix a gas dryer for his customer, and could i get involved. A few questions later, I found out that the tech would not do the service call because the dryer had no external vent and was venting into the basement - and had been for about 4 months. Were these people thankful - no - they were p---ed that their dryer still did't work!!!0 -
Another interesting article
CO alarms
Maybe we are beginning to see a change?
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Dad nearly kills 8 year old son
They just don't get it. Dad tried to keep his son warm by using the oven for heat.
8 year old poisoned
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
FAULTY CO ALARM!!!!!
I posted this on The Wall, but I want it counted here.
The family had a UL listed CO alarm that failed to operate when they needed it to.
http://www.theomahachannel.com/news/3964823/detail.html
I am trying to get in touch with the reporter for more info. I'll keep you posted.
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Another sad story
Not much info here, but sadly a man was killed.
Man killed by CO
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
-
Another car left running in a garage
CO death
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Check this out.
No link needed here. Check out what happened AFTER the unit was "fixed"!!!
NORTH SHORE
FIRE DEPARTMENT
"Department personnel responded to a total of 86 calls for service between Nov. 29 and Dec. 6: 69 medical calls, 17 fire calls.
A faulty furnace caused a buildup of carbon monoxide in a house in the 500 block of E. Dean Road, Fox Point, on Nov. 29. The house was ventilated, the furnace turned off and the homeowner advised to call for repairs before turning it back on.
A faulty furnace caused a high level of carbon monoxide in a house in the 1800 block of W. Woodbury Lane, Glendale, on Nov. 29. Occupants reported feeling dizzy and were evaluated by paramedics. The house was ventilated and occupants advised to stay at a different location until repairs were made. After the furnace was cleaned, the resident called again and firefighters found low levels of CO in the house and advised her again to call a repairman and We Energies."
Now if the guy didn't know how to fix it the first time.........How will he know what to do this time?????
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
-
Three people poisoned
I am curious as what the fire officials consider "dangerous levels", it usually never gets mentioned.
Three poisoned
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Family poisoned
Close call here. Mother and children.
CO poisoning
Another story about the same situation. A few more details.
More details
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Mark
What Equipment do you use. We use the Fluke hand held unit and also a Testo for in the chimney. Are you talking mostly about testing around the heaters? I have to admit we have not until now used it on oil applications but will now.
We have found a lot of homes with clogged chimneys this year and the people were sick.
I even found a house that had just been purchased and I was giving an estimate to repipe a drain line and noticed water marks and rust at the water heater flue pipe. a closer look found the chimney to be clogged solid. An even further look after cleaning chimney and still not seeing light found the neighbors (this was a twin) had their side of the chimney lined. Guess what? They capped the whole chimney 14 months previously (this was done buy a pro). It went that long, then a sale, then a home inspection and finally a simple regular guy like me being nosy while pricing a piping job to figure this out. It is crazy.
I would love to know what you use.0 -
Hi Wes
We use Bacharach Fyrite-Pro 120's.
We bring them into every home we enter regardless of the reason we are there.
Testo makes a good unit, but it doesn't have the respose time that a Bach does, and you need to be able to read spikes.
It is amazing what you find when you look!
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Another tragedy
Gas generator running in basement after power is cut for non-payment.
Three kids will have one less parent to celebrate Christmas with next week.
CO from generator
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
-
Family poisoned on The Isle of Long
Family poisoned
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Apartment building evacuated
A "faulty furnace" was the source.
"Faulty Furnace"
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
One dead, three hospitalized
Playing cards in a van parked in a garage?????
Started the engine to stay warm~~~~
Deadly card game
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Another school incident
Western NY.
School shut down
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Mom and two children poisoned
The house is "being searched" for the source.
3 poisoned
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Dog saves family from CO
This is an interesting story. The end of the report shows how ignorant people are about UL-2034 and how those alarms will work. The home had 50ppm CO AND a CO alarm. The CO alarm had no batteries in it, BUT it wouldn't have mattered anyway since a UL listed alarm will not sound at 50ppm! Good read here and I am glad that no-one was killed.
Dog is CO alarm
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
The luckiest man alive
This guy should be dead.
Lucky man
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
By the Dozen
http://nb.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/nb-hockey-poison20041223.html
I guess nobody was wearing their personal CO detector at the game!0 -
-
-
More CO deaths from gas generators
Gas generator
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
CO in Texas
CO deaths
Improper venting.
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Sometimes it's not accidental
Suicide
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Teen dies
CO poisoning while stuck in his vehicle.
Teen dies
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
Family of 6 poisoned
^ poisoned
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
-
Christmas Day, 3 dead
How terrible.
Christmas Day deaths
Mark H
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 86.3K THE MAIN WALL
- 3.1K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 53 Biomass
- 422 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 90 Chimneys & Flues
- 2K Domestic Hot Water
- 5.4K Gas Heating
- 100 Geothermal
- 156 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3.4K Oil Heating
- 64 Pipe Deterioration
- 918 Plumbing
- 6.1K Radiant Heating
- 381 Solar
- 14.9K Strictly Steam
- 3.3K Thermostats and Controls
- 54 Water Quality
- 41 Industry Classes
- 47 Job Opportunities
- 17 Recall Announcements