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General CO Information
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless
poison gas that can be fatal when inhaled. CO inhibits the
blood’s capacity to carry oxygen.
Possible Sources
CO can be produced when burning any fossil fuel: gasoline,
propane, natural gas, oil and wood. It can be produced by
any fuel-burning appliance that is malfunctioning, improp-
erly installed, or not ventilated correctly. Possible sources
include furnaces, gas ranges/stoves, gas clothes dryers,
water heaters, portable fuel burning space heaters, fire-
places, wood-burning stoves and certain swimming pool
heaters. Blocked chimneys or flues, back drafting and
changes in air pressure, corroded or disconnected vent
pipes, and a loose or cracked furnace exchanger can also
cause CO. Vehicles and other combustion engines running
in an attached garage and using a charcoal/gas grill or
hibachi in an enclosed area are all possible sources of CO.
The following conditions can result in transient CO situations:
Excessive spillage or reverse venting of fuel-burning appli-
ances caused by outdoor ambient conditions such as: Wind
direction and/or velocity, including high gusts of wind, heavy
air in the vent pipes (cold/humid air with extended periods
between cycles), negative pressure differential resulting from
the use of exhaust fans, simultaneous operation of several
fuel-burning appliances competing for limited internal air,
vent pipe connections vibrating loose from clothes dryers,
furnaces, or water heaters, obstructions in, or unconvention-
al, vent pipe designs which can amplify the above situations,
extended operation of unvented fuel-burning devices (range,
oven, fireplace, etc.), temperature inversions which can trap
exhaust gasses near the ground, car idling in an open or
closed attached garage, or near a home.
Carbon Monoxide Safety Information