General Carbon Monoxide (Co) Information - Kidde P4010DCSCO-WCA User Manual

14. General Carbon Monoxide (CO) Information

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless poison gas that can be fatal when inhaled. CO
inhibits the blood's capacity to carry oxygen.
PoSSibLe SoUrceS oF co
Inside your home, appliances used for heating and cooking are the most likely sources of CO. Vehicles
running in attached garages can also produce dangerous levels of CO. CO can be produced when burning
any fossil fuel: gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas, oil and wood. It can be produced by any fuel-burning
appliance that is malfunctioning, improperly installed, or not ventilated correctly, such as: Furnaces/
boilers, gas ranges/stoves, gas clothes dryers, water heaters, portable fuel burning space heaters,
fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and certain swimming pool heaters.
Blocked chimneys or flues, back drafting and changes in air pressure, corroded or disconnected vent
pipes, or a loose or cracked furnace heat exchanger can also release CO into your building. Vehicles and
other combustion engines running in an attached garage and using a charcoal/gas grill or hibachi in an
enclosed area are all possible sources of CO.
tHe FoLLoWinG conditionS can reSULt in tranSient co SitUationS:
Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel-burning appliances caused by:
(1) outdoor ambient conditions, such as wind direction and/or velocity, including high gusts of wind, and
insufficient draft in the vent pipes;
(2) negative pressure differential resulting from the use of exhaust fans;
(3) simultaneous operation of several fuel-burning appliances competing for limited internal air;
(4) loose vent pipe connections from fuel-fired appliances;
(5) obstructions, or unconventional vent pipe designs that can amplify the above situations;
(6) poorly designed or maintained chimneys and/or vents;
(7) extended operation of unvented fuel-burning devices (range, oven, fireplace, etc);
(8) temperature inversions that can trap exhaust gases near the ground;
(9) car idling in an open or closed attached garage, or near a home.
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