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COMBUSTION
AIR/INDOOR
,HUMIDITY
(How. They
Affect
Your
Safety
and
Comfort)
.!
An energy
efficient
home
or a home
using
exhaus_
fans, fireplaces,
clothes
dryers,
and gas appliances
in-
creases
this problem
and your
appliances
could
be
starving
for air, which
is unsafe.
This'_ay
result in more and more air being drawn
from
the house until fresh air is sucked
in through
an ap-
pliance
flue or fireplace
chimney.
Carbon
monoxide
can be the result.
J
Your
home
needs
to
breathe
and
the
different
temperatures
and humidity
ranges in your
home dur-
ing the year makes
it necessary
to be sensitive
to air
requirements
and potential
ventilation
problems.
Because
of high
energy
costs
for
home
heating,
new materials
and methods
are being
used
in con-
struction
and remodeling.
The improved
construction
and additional
insulation
has made these
homes much
tighter
around
windows
and doors so that air leakage
is minimal.
This may create
a problem
in supplying
enough combustion
and ventilation
air for gas-fired
or
other fuel burning
appliances.
Fresh air is needed
for
combustion
and ventilation
of flue gases.
Carbon monoxide
or "CO"
is a colorless
and odorless
gas produced
when
fuel is not burned
completely
or
when
the flame
does not receive
sufficient
oxygen.
CARBON
MONOXIDE
CAN
RESULT
IN
ASPHYXIATION.
Be aware
of these
air starvation
signalsi
1. Headaches-Nausea-Dizziness
2. Excessive
humidity-Heavily
frosted
win-
dows
or a moist
"clammy"
feeling
in the
home.
3. Smoke
from the fireplace
won't
draw
up
the
chimney.
4.
Flue gases
,won't
draw
up the appliance
flue pipe.
1. How do I know
if my furnace
or other
appliances
are
receiving
enough
air
for
proper
combustion
and
ventilation
of flue
gases?
Use the following
checkout
procedure
to determine
if the air leakage
into your home is adequate
tosupp-
tyth e needs
of your
appliances
and fireplace.
If you
are uncertain
about
your
ability
to perform
these
checks
contact
your
installing
dealer
or place
of
purchase.
5.
Check for draft
hood spillage
at each
appliance.
(Hold a lighted_matCh
2"
from draft
opening
as
:
shown
for the:typical
gas water
heaterii
:
FIG.
1 CHECK
:FOR DRAFT
HOOD
SPILLAGE
A.
1.
Make
the inspection
as follows:
Close
all doors
and
windows.
If you
have
a
fireplace,
start
a fire and wait until flames
are bur-
ing vigorously.
2.
Turn on all exhausting
devices,
such as: kitchen
and
bathroom
exhaust
fans
- dryers
(gas
or
electric)
3.
Turn on all vented
gas appliances,
such as: heating
equipment
(includes
any
room
heaters)
water
heaters.
4.
Wait
ten (10)
minutes
for drafts
to stabilize.
B. No Spillage
-
if match
flame
pulls toward
draft
hood,
this
in-
dicates sufficient
infiltration
air. Return exhausting
devices
and appliances
to the condition
you found
them.
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