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POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CO IN THE HOME
Fuel-burning appliances like: portable heater, gas or
wood burning fireplace, gas kitchen range or cooktop,
gas clothes dryer.
Damaged or insufficient venting: corroded or dis-
connected water heater vent pipe, leaking chimney
pipe or flue, or cracked heat exchanger, blocked or
clogged chimney opening.
Improper use of appliance/device: operating a bar-
becue grill or vehicle in an enclosed area (like a
garage or screened porch).
Transient CO Problems: “transient” or on-again-off-
again CO problems can be caused by outdoor condi-
tions and other special circumstances.
The following conditions can result in transient
CO situations:
1. Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel
appliances caused by outdoor conditions such as:
• Wind direction and/or velocity, including
high, gusty winds. Heavy air in the vent pipes
(cold/humid air with extended periods
between cycles).
• Negative pressure differential resulting from
the use of exhaust fans.
• Several appliances running at the same time
competing for limited fresh air.
• Vent pipe connections vibrating loose from
clothes dryers, furnaces, or water heaters.
• Obstructions in or unconventional vent pipe
designs which can amplify the above situations.
2. Extended operation of unvented fuel burning
devices (range, oven, fireplace).
3. Temperature inversions, which can trap exhaust
close to the ground.
4. Car idling in an open or closed attached garage,
or near a home.
These conditions are dangerous because they can
trap exhaust in your home. Since these conditions
can come and go, they are also hard to recreate dur-
ing a CO investigation.