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Combustion Air (Your Safety)
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury
or death.
All fuel--burning appliances must be provided with enough
fresh air for proper combustion and ventilation of flue gases.
Some models use air from the space in which they are located,
and other appliances in thesamespace may also be using
indoor air for ventilation and/or combustion.
!
WARNING
New materials and methods are being used in construction and
remodelingwhich result in lower energy costs for heating and
cooling. It may also mean your appliances may not be getting
enough air for combustion and ventilation of flue gases. The use of
exhaust fans, fireplaces, clothes dryers, and other appliances
consume air or vent it to the outdoors.
If the gas appliances or heating furnace can’t get enough air, two
conditions may result:
1. The appliances or furnace may produce carbon monoxide
gas.
2. The appliance may not vent flue gases properly. The follow-
ing are signs that your appliances may not be getting
enough air for proper combustion.
Be aware of these signals:
1. Headaches, Nausea, Dizziness
2. Excessive humidity----heavily frosted windows or a moist
“clammy” feeling in the structure.
3. Smoke from the fireplace won’t draw up the chimney.
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury
or death.
If you experience headaches, nausea, or dizziness, carbon
monoxide may be present. Leave the house immediately and
call your gas supplier.
!
WARNING
Combustion Air Checks
If any of the above signals are noticed, perform a combustion air
check or call a qualified service agency. If you add weather
stripping, storm windows, insulation, an additional fuel burning
appliance, or remodel the structure, a combustion air check MUST
be accomplished after the addition.
Make the inspection as follows:
1. Close all doors and windows. If you have a fireplace, start a
fire and wait until flames are burning vigorously.
2. Turn on all exhausting devices, such as: kitchen and bath-
room exhaust fans and dryers (gas or electric).
3. Turn on all vented gas appliances, such as: heating equip-
ment (includes any room heaters) and water heaters.
4. Wait ten (10) minutes for drafts to stabilize.
5. On appliances with a draft hood, check for spillage by hold-
ing a lighted match 2” (50.8mm)from the draft hood open-
ing. Reference Fig. 1, which shows a water heater draft
hood.
Typical Gas
Water Heater
Draft Hood
Vent Pipe
Match
A07688
Fig. 1 -- Water Heater Draft Hood
a.
Match flame pulls toward draft hood.
This indicates no spillage and that appliance is getting
enough air for combustion. Return exhausting devices
and appliances to the condition in which you found
them.
b.
Match goes out or flame wavers away from draft hood.
This indicates spillage and that appliance is not getting
enough air for combustion.
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury
or death.
Draft hood spillage means there is not enough air for proper
combustion and carbon monoxide may be present.
Keep a window open (a minimum of 2” or 50.8mm) near the
appliance until a permanent combustion air duct is installed.
Contact a qualified service agency.
!
WARNING
If draft hood spillage is indicated:
1. Check for plugged vent connectors and chimneys. Repair
stoppage and test again.
2. If you have a fireplace, open a window or door near the fire-
place and then check for spillage. If spillage stops, do not
use the fireplace until you can supply fresh air by a perman-
ent duct.
3. If you have kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, turn them
OFF and check for spillage. If spillage stops, do not use ex-
haust fans until you can supply fresh air by a permanent
duct. Circuit breakers for fans should be turned off and
marked as to why they are off.
4. Spillage means air starvation and that an outdoor air duct or
air intake must be installed to provide air directly to the area
around the furnace. This duct or intake MUST comply with
local and state building codes or in their absence with the
National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1--2006 in
the U.S., or the National Standard of Canada, Natural Gas
and Propane Installation Code CSA B--149.1--2006 in
Canada.
Indoor Humidity (Your Comfort)
Relative humidity is important to your health. Proper
humidification helps cut down incidences of respiratory illness. Air
that is too wet may damage the building structure. Air that is too
dry is uncomfortable. A quick way to test for proper humidity is as
follows:
1. Look for frequent fogging or excessive condensation on the
inside of windows. This indicates the indoor humidity level
is too high for outdoor weather conditions.
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