Air Requirements; Combustion Air; Indoor Humidity - Amana GUI* User's Information Manual

Air Requirements

WARNING
PERSONAL INJURY HAZARD
To avoid death, personal injury or property
damage, enough fresh air for proper com-
bustion and ventilation of flue gases must
be provided to this furnace. Most homes re-
quire outside air to be supplied into the fur-
nace area.
Improved construction and additional insulation in homes
have reduced the heat loss and made these homes much
tighter around doors and windows so that air infiltration is
minimal. This creates a problem to supply combustion and
ventilation air for gas fired or other fuel burning appliances.
Any use of appliances that pull air out of the house (clothes
dryers, exhaust fans, fireplaces, etc.) increases this prob-
lem and appliances could be starving for air.
If fuel-burning appliances are starved for air, the flue gases
which these appliances produce as they operate may not
vent outdoors properly, but remain in the home instead.
These flue gases may include carbon monoxide.
WARNING
PERSONAL INJURY HAZARD
Death or personal injury from asphyxiation
can result from exposure to carbon monox-
ide.
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.
Be aware of these air starvation signals which indicate
conditions that may result in carbon monoxide or that
carbon monoxide may be present:
1. Headaches-Nausea-Dizziness.
2. Excessive humidity-heavily frosted windows or a moist
"clammy" feeling in the home.
3. Smoke from a fireplace won't draw up the chimney.
4. Flue gases won't draw up the appliance vent pipe.

Combustion Air

Normally the air for combustion and ventilation can be ob-
tained from the surrounding unconfined space or louvered
closet door.
• When a furnace is installed in a closet and the closet
door is louvered DO NOT OBSTRUCT LOUVERS. Lou-
vers must be open and clear to provide combustion air
to the furnace.
• When the furnace is installed in a confined space within
a home and the air for combustion and ventilation en-
ters the space through ducts from the outside...be sure
to check the entering and outlet (grilled) openings so
that they are always clear and clean.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not partition off a small area around
the furnace including a non louvered door. This could ob-
struct the combustion air from reaching the furnace.

Indoor Humidity

Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air
relative to the amount the air can hold at the same tempera-
ture. Example: At 40% relative humidity, the air could hold 2
1/2 times as much moisture (2.5 x 40 = 100%) before be-
coming saturated.
The colder the air; the less moisture it can hold. As air is
warmed, its ability to hold moisture is increased.
Example: A winter day, outdoor temperature 10°F, and rela-
tive humidity of 70%. If that air enters a home and is warmed
to 72°F the relative humidity will drop to 6% (very dry) if no
more moisture is added.
Relative humidity is important to your health and home as
proper humidification helps reduce respiratory difficulties and
helps improve the indoor air quality.
A good relative humidity is one just high enough to barely
start condensation along the lower edges or lower corners of
the windows. More than that can be damaging.
Frequent fogging or excessive condensation on inside win-
dows indicates the indoor humidity level is too high for out-
door weather conditions. Damage to the building may result
if the condition persists. (Condensation on inside of storm
windows indicates loose inside windows. Adding weather-
stripping to tighten inside windows usually corrects this prob-
lem.)
The following table shows the recommended maximum in-
door humidity in relationship to the outdoor temperatures.
Outdoor
Temperature Single -Paned Double-Paned
+30°F
+20°F
+10°F
0°F
-10°F
-20°F
-30°F
4
Humidity
Glass Glass
30% 50%
20% 40%
15% 35%
10% 30%
5% 25%
5% 20%
3% 18%