Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
Nov 30th 2010, 5:31 pm
#1
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Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
I've had a quick look for any codes/guidance/best practice on safety inspections for gas burning appliances in residential homes but nothing definitive turned up.
I heard on the radio last night someone from the fire service saying homeowners should have a safety inspection once a year and have carbon monoxide alarms on each level. Fair enough in my opinion but is there any code/guide that states the requirement for an annual inspection?
I heard on the radio last night someone from the fire service saying homeowners should have a safety inspection once a year and have carbon monoxide alarms on each level. Fair enough in my opinion but is there any code/guide that states the requirement for an annual inspection?
Nov 30th 2010, 5:36 pm
#2
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
I've had a quick look for any codes/guidance/best practice on safety inspections for gas burning appliances in residential homes but nothing definitive turned up.
I heard on the radio last night someone from the fire service saying homeowners should have a safety inspection once a year and have carbon monoxide alarms on each level. Fair enough in my opinion but is there any code/guide that states the requirement for an annual inspection?
I heard on the radio last night someone from the fire service saying homeowners should have a safety inspection once a year and have carbon monoxide alarms on each level. Fair enough in my opinion but is there any code/guide that states the requirement for an annual inspection?
I've never heard of any legal requirement in Calgary or Alberta for that matter, to have any gas fired household appliance inspected at any time other than when installed perhaps.
Something that is a law that a lot of people are unaware of is that it is illegal to put an after market insulating blanket on a gas fired hot water heater.
See attached: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source...RTk-oA&cad=rja
Last edited by Steve_P; Nov 30th 2010 at 5:40 pm.
Nov 30th 2010, 5:47 pm
#3
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
Short answer...no.
I've never heard of any legal requirement in Calgary or Alberta for that matter, to have any gas fired household appliance inspected at any time other than when installed perhaps.
Something that is a law that a lot of people are unaware of is that it is illegal to put an after market insulating blanket on a gas fired hot water heater.
See attached: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source...RTk-oA&cad=rja
I've never heard of any legal requirement in Calgary or Alberta for that matter, to have any gas fired household appliance inspected at any time other than when installed perhaps.
Something that is a law that a lot of people are unaware of is that it is illegal to put an after market insulating blanket on a gas fired hot water heater.
See attached: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source...RTk-oA&cad=rja
Nov 30th 2010, 6:01 pm
#4
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Nov 30th 2010, 6:06 pm
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
Is it common to get furnaces inspected in your experience? I've not really looked closely at the setup we have but there seems to be a flue to discharge combustion gases from the water heater and furnace and I'm guessing that the air for combustion is drawn from the room although I suppose there might be a intake I'll have to look more closely. The standard arrangement in the UK with balanced flues seems much safer and a few years ago they made it a legal requirement for rented properties to have an annual safety inspection.
In a newer home with a mid efficiency furnace you should have a large pipe (about 6" diameter) running from outside and coming down from the ceiling close to the furnace that has what appears to be a bucket on the end of it. That is your combustion air for the furnace. There could also be be another pipe attached to the cold air return which is a fresh air intake to the system but not combustion air.
On the newer high efficiency furnaces the exhaust and combustion air are run through white plastic pipe that likely run side by side from inside the furnace to the outside of the home. At least that's how they are run on our new furnace.
Atco Gas used to come and do free inspections of gas appliances, I don't know if they still do that sort of thing.
Edit: Apparently Atco still does the free inspections. http://www.atcogas.com/Safety/home_s...ual_Checks.asp
Last edited by Steve_P; Nov 30th 2010 at 6:12 pm.
Nov 30th 2010, 8:23 pm
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
We had a new furnace installed three years ago and just this last Saturday had it inspected, by the company that installed it. Their recommendation is to have it inspected every two years.
In a newer home with a mid efficiency furnace you should have a large pipe (about 6" diameter) running from outside and coming down from the ceiling close to the furnace that has what appears to be a bucket on the end of it. That is your combustion air for the furnace. There could also be be another pipe attached to the cold air return which is a fresh air intake to the system but not combustion air.
On the newer high efficiency furnaces the exhaust and combustion air are run through white plastic pipe that likely run side by side from inside the furnace to the outside of the home. At least that's how they are run on our new furnace.
Atco Gas used to come and do free inspections of gas appliances, I don't know if they still do that sort of thing.
Edit: Apparently Atco still does the free inspections. http://www.atcogas.com/Safety/home_s...ual_Checks.asp
In a newer home with a mid efficiency furnace you should have a large pipe (about 6" diameter) running from outside and coming down from the ceiling close to the furnace that has what appears to be a bucket on the end of it. That is your combustion air for the furnace. There could also be be another pipe attached to the cold air return which is a fresh air intake to the system but not combustion air.
On the newer high efficiency furnaces the exhaust and combustion air are run through white plastic pipe that likely run side by side from inside the furnace to the outside of the home. At least that's how they are run on our new furnace.
Atco Gas used to come and do free inspections of gas appliances, I don't know if they still do that sort of thing.
Edit: Apparently Atco still does the free inspections. http://www.atcogas.com/Safety/home_s...ual_Checks.asp
Nov 30th 2010, 8:55 pm
#8
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
Gas appliances should be inspected every year. Most importantly buy a carbon monoxide detector. You have a smoke alarm so why not a co detector? Seeing as CO is odourless and deadly..
Lee
Gas safe reg 514281
Lee
Gas safe reg 514281
Nov 30th 2010, 9:08 pm
#9
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
In Ontario:
If the appliance is naturally vented - which is what yours sounds like - it would need to be inspected annually. The reason is that naturally vented gas appliances have a draft hood and the appliance has to be checked to see that it not spilling products of combustion ie carbon monoxide into the room.
The heat exchanger of the furnace has to be checked too to make sure that it isn't cracked. Also check gas valve etc while you are at it.
Dictated but not signed by Flederman the gasman -certified
He also says that this has regulations are Canada wide and a minimum standard for compliance with add ons etc in each province.
If the appliance is naturally vented - which is what yours sounds like - it would need to be inspected annually. The reason is that naturally vented gas appliances have a draft hood and the appliance has to be checked to see that it not spilling products of combustion ie carbon monoxide into the room.
The heat exchanger of the furnace has to be checked too to make sure that it isn't cracked. Also check gas valve etc while you are at it.
Dictated but not signed by Flederman the gasman -certified
He also says that this has regulations are Canada wide and a minimum standard for compliance with add ons etc in each province.
Last edited by fledermaus; Nov 30th 2010 at 9:11 pm.
Nov 30th 2010, 11:22 pm
#10
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
DO NOT take chances with gas fired appliances..
3% of CO in your room........unconscious in 3 breaths....dead in 4 minutes.
3% of CO in your room........unconscious in 3 breaths....dead in 4 minutes.
Dec 1st 2010, 7:26 am
#11
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Location: London
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
In Ontario:
If the appliance is naturally vented - which is what yours sounds like - it would need to be inspected annually. The reason is that naturally vented gas appliances have a draft hood and the appliance has to be checked to see that it not spilling products of combustion ie carbon monoxide into the room.
The heat exchanger of the furnace has to be checked too to make sure that it isn't cracked. Also check gas valve etc while you are at it.
Dictated but not signed by Flederman the gasman -certified
He also says that this has regulations are Canada wide and a minimum standard for compliance with add ons etc in each province.
If the appliance is naturally vented - which is what yours sounds like - it would need to be inspected annually. The reason is that naturally vented gas appliances have a draft hood and the appliance has to be checked to see that it not spilling products of combustion ie carbon monoxide into the room.
The heat exchanger of the furnace has to be checked too to make sure that it isn't cracked. Also check gas valve etc while you are at it.
Dictated but not signed by Flederman the gasman -certified
He also says that this has regulations are Canada wide and a minimum standard for compliance with add ons etc in each province.
We term these as "open flued" in the UK, even more reason to install a CO alarm..Has nothing to stop products coming into the home in event of a failure.
Lee
Dec 1st 2010, 2:51 pm
#13
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
We have a CO alarm in the spare bedroom which has the vent nearest the furnace.
Dec 1st 2010, 3:31 pm
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
We had a new furnace installed three years ago and just this last Saturday had it inspected, by the company that installed it. Their recommendation is to have it inspected every two years.
In a newer home with a mid efficiency furnace you should have a large pipe (about 6" diameter) running from outside and coming down from the ceiling close to the furnace that has what appears to be a bucket on the end of it. That is your combustion air for the furnace. There could also be be another pipe attached to the cold air return which is a fresh air intake to the system but not combustion air.
On the newer high efficiency furnaces the exhaust and combustion air are run through white plastic pipe that likely run side by side from inside the furnace to the outside of the home. At least that's how they are run on our new furnace.
Atco Gas used to come and do free inspections of gas appliances, I don't know if they still do that sort of thing.
Edit: Apparently Atco still does the free inspections. http://www.atcogas.com/Safety/home_s...ual_Checks.asp
In a newer home with a mid efficiency furnace you should have a large pipe (about 6" diameter) running from outside and coming down from the ceiling close to the furnace that has what appears to be a bucket on the end of it. That is your combustion air for the furnace. There could also be be another pipe attached to the cold air return which is a fresh air intake to the system but not combustion air.
On the newer high efficiency furnaces the exhaust and combustion air are run through white plastic pipe that likely run side by side from inside the furnace to the outside of the home. At least that's how they are run on our new furnace.
Atco Gas used to come and do free inspections of gas appliances, I don't know if they still do that sort of thing.
Edit: Apparently Atco still does the free inspections. http://www.atcogas.com/Safety/home_s...ual_Checks.asp
Anyway I'll see if we can get Atco to take a look.
Dec 1st 2010, 8:26 pm
#15
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Re: Gas Burning Appliances/Carbon Monoxide
There is a pipe approx 6" dia to the furnace which is insulated and feels fairly cold to the touch to it must be the air intake. It terminates in a small bucket/can shape at the side of the furnace. There is a vent from the furnace and one from the water heater which combine and it looks like it then runs up vertically through the roof pressumably. The furnace is about a year old - the person who installed it said it was a mid efficiency furnace. It looks like the gas heater uses air in the room for combustion as I can't see an intake pipe to it.
Anyway I'll see if we can get Atco to take a look.
Anyway I'll see if we can get Atco to take a look.