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“How much is too much?” is an often asked question. The question implies that there is some level of Carbon Monoxide that is OK to have in the house Day In Day Out. The answer is - the only acceptable continuous level of CO in the house is ZERO (O) PPM. If the level of Carbon Monoxide is anything other than ZERO, the source of CO must be found.
If the house is located on busy intersection, air inside of the house will have the same background level of Carbon Monoxide as the air outside. It does not make polluted air any healthier, but at least we know that there is no simmering problem with your furnace or water heater that can escalate any time.
A steady level of CO in the house usually means that products of combustion from one of the gas burning appliances - gas furnace, water heater, fireplace, etc. - found their way into the living space.
Problems with a steady level of Carbon Monoxide never go away. Rather, at some point they begin rapidly escalate to a dangerous level. It may take few month, it may take only a few hours.
If it’s the furnace burner problem, at some point furnace heat exchanger will get plugged up with carbon and will cause massive spill of carbon monoxide into the house.
If it’s an exhaust vent that started developing a crack, in its final moment the vent will just snap, and
If the house is located on busy intersection, air inside of the house will have the same background level of Carbon Monoxide as the air outside. It does not make polluted air any healthier, but at least we know that there is no simmering problem with your furnace or water heater that can escalate any time.
A steady level of CO in the house usually means that products of combustion from one of the gas burning appliances - gas furnace, water heater, fireplace, etc. - found their way into the living space.
Problems with a steady level of Carbon Monoxide never go away. Rather, at some point they begin rapidly escalate to a dangerous level. It may take few month, it may take only a few hours.
If it’s the furnace burner problem, at some point furnace heat exchanger will get plugged up with carbon and will cause massive spill of carbon monoxide into the house.
If it’s an exhaust vent that started developing a crack, in its final moment the vent will just snap, and
A Wrong Question about Carbon Monoxide
Frequently Asked Wrong Question About Carbon Monoxide (CO)
flood of carbon monoxide will start coming into the house.
That is why the only acceptable continuous level of CO in the house is ZERO (O) PPM. Otherwise, the source of CO must be found.
You may rest assured that sooner or later your CO alarm will start sounding and showing some reading. What to do - stay inside or take the family out?
According to Health Canada guidelines, the acceptable short-term exposure ranges for carbon monoxide in residential indoor air are:
≤ 11 ppm - eight-hour average concentration;
That is why the only acceptable continuous level of CO in the house is ZERO (O) PPM. Otherwise, the source of CO must be found.
You may rest assured that sooner or later your CO alarm will start sounding and showing some reading. What to do - stay inside or take the family out?
According to Health Canada guidelines, the acceptable short-term exposure ranges for carbon monoxide in residential indoor air are:
≤ 11 ppm - eight-hour average concentration;
≤ 25 ppm - one-hour average concentration.
You may use the Guidelines when you have to decide what to do until help arrives. Keep in mind that newborn children, pregnant women and people with illnesses may have lower tolerance to Carbon Monoxide.
You may come across guidelines on acceptable levels of Carbon Monoxide. Those are for some commercial and industrial jobs where CO cannot be avoided, e.g. a propane forklift working in a warehouse.
On job sites people are almost never alone, they do not fall asleep. There are no infants and no elderly people around. It is not the case in homes. In residential setting Carbon Monoxide can and should be avoided.
You may use the Guidelines when you have to decide what to do until help arrives. Keep in mind that newborn children, pregnant women and people with illnesses may have lower tolerance to Carbon Monoxide.
You may come across guidelines on acceptable levels of Carbon Monoxide. Those are for some commercial and industrial jobs where CO cannot be avoided, e.g. a propane forklift working in a warehouse.
On job sites people are almost never alone, they do not fall asleep. There are no infants and no elderly people around. It is not the case in homes. In residential setting Carbon Monoxide can and should be avoided.
Cozy World - Heating Contractors | Central Air Conditioner | Forced Air Gas Furnace | Central Heat Pump |
More on Carbon Monoxide
There are few posts on the subject in an attempt to organize the material:
♦ A Good Thing About Carbon Monoxide
♦ A Wrong Question About Carbon Monoxide