AIR for Combustion and Ventilation

WARNING

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This heater must have fresh air for proper operation. If not, poor fuel combustion and improper venting of flue gases will result. Carbon monoxide poisoning from backed-up flue gases could occur. Read the following instructions to insure proper fresh air for this and other fuel-burning appliances in your home.

Today’s homes are built more energy efficient than ever. New materials, increased insulation, and new construction methods help reduce heat loss in homes. Home owners weather strip and caulk around windows and doors to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. During heating months, home owners want their homes as airtight as possible.

While it is good to make your home energy efficient, it is not good to make it too airtight. Your home needs to breath. If your home is too airtight, fresh air has little chance of entering in. This could be dangerous if you have fuel-burning appliances. These appliances need fresh, outside air for proper combustion and ventilation.

Exhaust fans, fireplaces, clothes dryers, and fuel-burning appliances draw air from the house to operate. This heater is a fuel-burning appliance. It uses air from inside the house for combustion. It also uses this air as a draft for venting. This draft air helps move combustion gases through the vent pipe to the outdoors. If your house is too airtight, there is not enough fresh air for these items to use. Fresh air may draw back into the house through venting flues and chimneys. This will keep fuel- burning appliances from venting properly. This may cause them to release poison- ous carbon monoxide gas into your home. It is very important to provide enough fresh air to run all fuel-burning appliances.

DANGER

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Carbon monoxide poisoning may lead to death!

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble the flu, with headaches, dizziness, and/or nausea. If you have these signs, the heater may not be operating or venting properly. Get fresh air at once! Have heater or heater venting system serviced. Some people are more affected by carbon monoxide than others. These include pregnant women, persons with heart and lung disease and anemia, those under the influence of alcohol, and those at high altitudes.

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