359BAV
Combustion Air (Your Safety)
!WARNING
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury or death.
All
Some models use air from the space in which they are located, and other appliances in thesamespace may also be using indoor air for ventilation and/or combustion.
New materials and methods are being used in construction and remodelingwhich result in lower energy costs for heating and cooling. It may also mean your appliances may not be getting enough air for combustion and ventilation of flue gases. The use of exhaust fans, fireplaces, clothes dryers, and other appliances consume air or vent it to the outdoors.
If the gas appliances or heating furnace can’t get enough air, two conditions may result:
1.The appliances or furnace may produce carbon monoxide gas.
2.The appliance may not vent flue gases properly. The follow- ing are signs that your appliances may not be getting enough air for proper combustion.
Be aware of these signals:
1.Headaches, Nausea, Dizziness
2.Excessive
3.Smoke from the fireplace won’t draw up the chimney.
ing. Reference Fig. 1, which shows a water heater draft hood.
Vent Pipe | Draft Hood |
Typical Gas
Water Heater
Match
A07688
Fig. 1 - Water Heater Draft Hood
a.Match flame pulls toward draft hood.
This indicates no spillage and that appliance is getting enough air for combustion. Return exhausting devices and appliances to the condition in which you found them.
b.Match goes out or flame wavers away from draft hood. This indicates spillage and that appliance is not getting enough air for combustion.
!WARNING
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury or death.
Draft hood spillage means there is not enough air for proper combustion and carbon monoxide may be present.
Keep a window open (a minimum of 2” or 50.8mm) near the appliance until a permanent combustion air duct is installed. Contact a qualified service agency.
!WARNING
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD
Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury or death.
If you experience headaches, nausea, or dizziness, carbon monoxide may be present. Leave the house immediately and call your gas supplier.
Combustion Air Checks
If any of the above signals are noticed, perform a combustion air check or call a qualified service agency. If you add weather stripping, storm windows, insulation, an additional fuel burning appliance, or remodel the structure, a combustion air check MUST be accomplished after the addition.
Make the inspection as follows:
1.Close all doors and windows. If you have a fireplace, start a fire and wait until flames are burning vigorously.
2.Turn on all exhausting devices, such as: kitchen and bath- room exhaust fans and dryers (gas or electric).
3.Turn on all vented gas appliances, such as: heating equip- ment (includes any room heaters) and water heaters.
4.Wait ten (10) minutes for drafts to stabilize.
5.On appliances with a draft hood, check for spillage by hold- ing a lighted match 2” (50.8mm)from the draft hood open-
If draft hood spillage is indicated:
1.Check for plugged vent connectors and chimneys. Repair stoppage and test again.
2.If you have a fireplace, open a window or door near the fire- place and then check for spillage. If spillage stops, do not use the fireplace until you can supply fresh air by a perman- ent duct.
3.If you have kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, turn them OFF and check for spillage. If spillage stops, do not use ex- haust fans until you can supply fresh air by a permanent duct. Circuit breakers for fans should be turned off and marked as to why they are off.
4.Spillage means air starvation and that an outdoor air duct or air intake must be installed to provide air directly to the area around the furnace. This duct or intake MUST comply with local and state building codes or in their absence with the National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54/ANSI
Indoor Humidity (Your Comfort)
Relative humidity is important to your health. Proper humidification helps cut down incidences of respiratory illness. Air that is too wet may damage the building structure. Air that is too dry is uncomfortable. A quick way to test for proper humidity is as follows:
1.Look for frequent fogging or excessive condensation on the inside of windows. This indicates the indoor humidity level is too high for outdoor weather conditions.
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