1. Information About Carbon Monoxide
• Blocked chimneys or flues, back drafts and changes in air pressure,
corroded 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 barbecues 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 velocity, 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.
Information About Carbon Monoxide Alarms –
What They Can and Cannot Do:
CO alarms provide early warning of the presence of CO, usually before a
healthy adult would experience symptoms. This early warning is possible,
however, only if your CO alarm is located, installed and maintained as
described in this guide.
Because carbon monoxide is a cumulative poison, long-term exposures to
low levels may cause symptoms, as well as short-term exposures to high
levels. This Kidde unit has a time-weighted alarm – the higher the level of
CO present, the sooner the alarm will be triggered.
