How much carbon monoxide is normal

[Muhammad]

Recently had my gas forced hot air furnace circa 1983 serviced and the tech ran a carbon monoxide meter on the vent closest to the furnace. We stopped checking after about 30 minutes and PPM was up to 28. He didn't seem too comfortable with that. Just curious, what would you consider safe levels?

 

[Locoweed]

Carbon Monoxide Levels & Risks - Home Comfort & Safety

https://nyad.com/data/uploads/2017/04/carbon_monoxide_danger_levels.pdf

What is the average level of carbon monoxide in homes? | Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | US EPA

If it were me, I would want a lower level. Try to find out why the level is that high.

 

[MoKelly]

A CO2 detector will go off if there are 50 PPM measured for 8 hours or 40 PPM for 10 hours.

I assume since you just had the furnace guy at your house, he checked for a partially blocked flu or cracked heat exchanger.

MoKelly

 

[Muhammad]

Carbon Monoxide Levels & Risks - Home Comfort & Safety

https://nyad.com/data/uploads/2017/04/carbon_monoxide_danger_levels.pdf

What is the average level of carbon monoxide in homes? | Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | US EPA

If it were me, I would want a lower level. Try to find out why the level is that high.

Thanks for the links, very useful.

With the age of the furnace he suspected small crack(s) in the heat exchanger. I believe that's what he said, anyway. Furnaces are not my forte.

 

[4570Man]

You’d be money ahead junking the ancient furnace anyway. It was probably 80 percent efficient prior to the the heat exchangers being burned out.

 

[user.69169]

You got succession plan for who in charge while you recover from Heart incident?

CO not dependable killer, might just knock you flat. Take a few months to recover.

You got baby in de house?
Real CO detector under 40 bucks. Check ambient level outside of house too.

 

[Bocephous]

I burn coal so I have a CO detector in the basement, about 15 feet from the coal stove. I've never seen the detector indicate levels above "0."

 

[NHBX]

I have 3 CO detectors, none read above ZERO

 

[oosik]

That's very scary. I have no "heat by combustion" devices in the house. However - I have three smoke detectors. Do the smoke detectors work - YES. Kind of a "I told you so" - after I burn something on the kitchen range.

 

[Jstpssng]

CO2 poisoning is nothing to mess around with. I"d get rid of that furnace ASAP. As somebody else already mentioned, the upgrade will pay for itself.

 

[old and tired]

Thanks for this thread... just ordered 2x, C M detectors. :thumbsup:

 

[goeduck]

^^^ Right. The only person I know that survived CO poisoning is a guy who passed out and was lucky enough to fall over and hit the garage door, knocking it open. His head landed outside when he hit the ground. Medics responded and the tests when he got to the hospital detected high CO levels. He had a car running in the garage with only a window open.

 

[Muhammad]

CO2 poisoning is nothing to mess around with. I"d get rid of that furnace ASAP. As somebody else already mentioned, the upgrade will pay for itself.

I have never run it beyond the test so it looks like I'll be getting a new furnace soon.

 

[MossRoad]

I have never run it beyond the test so it looks like I'll be getting a new furnace soon.

Great! :thumbsup:

We're gonna replace ours this summer. It was probably 20 years old when we moved in here 25 years ago. No problems, but it's highly inefficient as is our air conditioner. Being in both a cold and hot climate, both the heat and air run often. We'll get our money back in energy savings in 5-7 years.

 

[ultrarunner]

Do you have gas range?

The reason I asked is a coworker replaced his central natural gas furnace because CO alarms.

New furnace and problem continued...the vent from the gas dryer was not vent to daylight... they bought one of those Energy Saver indoor lint traps.

Gas cooktop can have 4-6 burners plus bake and broil burners and few have provision to vent and range goods may or may not vent if you remember to turn on.

Friends in San Diego boost they have never turned on their furnace in 7 years... I asked if it was broken?

They have passive solar and the house has never been cold.

80% furnaces are no longer an option here due to energy regs and and air regs require lo Nox

 

[goeduck]

The only person I know that survived CO poisoning is a guy who passed out and was lucky enough to fall over and hit the garage door, knocking it open. His head landed outside when he hit the ground. Medics responded and the tests when he got to the hospital detected high CO levels. He had a car running in the garage with only a window open which was why they figured CO right away.

It a level of CO concentration in the blood plus a duration of the exposure that gets you. He lucked out on the duration.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

You might consider a heat pump. We are total electric, so we have no choice.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have one residential Heat Pump and I bought into the savings vs cost plus being all new.

Wish I could say I was pleased... every year I've had service calls with no heat or no cooling tenant complaints and often on holidays...

I get all the costs and tenants savings?

My 1922 home has the original 1922 central furnace and is the one I like best... totally silent with huge ducts.

My 1959 home has original and only replaced belt.

My 2005 furnace went out New Years morning... tenant called early AM... checked it out on control board is burnt... not a thing I can do without new board in hand. Already replaced Draft Inducer and 2 years later draft sensor and last year cleaned flame rollout.

There is a certain beauty in simplicity before circuit boards.

As with most things pencil it out.