Need help finding something?
Carbon Monoxide Myths and Truths
From Bacharach
Myth: Cracks in a heat exchanger can produce CO.
Fact: Heat exchanger cracks alone do not produce CO. If a crack exists, and CO is being produced in the combustion process (too much fuel, not enough air) then there is a probability that CO can exit through the crack and into the distribution air.
Myth: There is always CO in the flue gases.
Fact: CO is produced when there is not enough air supplied to a combustion appliance during the process. The balance of fuel and air can change in a matter of minutes, leading to CO production.
Fact: CO can be diluted by other gases, producing lower readings when sampling certain locations. The sampling location must be close to combustion process and upstream from any draft diverters.
Myth: Heating equipment produce standard levels of CO.
Fact: Properly adjusted equipment will produce none or very small amount of CO. Regardless of the amount of CO produced, it is important to have the CO properly vented outside of the building or home.
Myth: General purpose leak detectors measure CO.
Fact: General purpose leak detectors do detect CO, but it is not recommended that they be used for problem analysis because the sensor is not CO specific.
Myth: Instruments do not need to be calibrated regularly.
Fact: All electronic instruments using highly accurate gas specific sensors must be calibrated on a known concentration of gas every six months, or more frequently if exposed to high levels of CO.
Click here to return to the library...