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.

 

[goeduck]

I had a defective gas furnace just about kill the wife and me. The heat exchanger was faulty and the CO levels went through the roof one night at 2 AM. I went to the CO sensor and started picking at the battery cover to shut it up. Then I thought I better step outside and check it. It went to zero. Went back inside and it went into alarm. Did it one more time to check. OH CARP!

Ran down to the basement with the CO sensor in my hand and it went to maximum scale. Shut the furnace off, turned on the exhaust fan and got the wife and dogs out of the house.

The pile of rust on my basement floor when the heat exchanger came out was astounding. Some crazy idea they would save money by using a cheaper alloy according to the repair guy.

Turns out the manufacturer had a lawsuit against them and they had to replace the heat exchangers IF ANYONE COMPLAINED (according to the settlement). I never figured out how I would complain if I was dead.

I have two CO sensors at the house I am at now. They need to be replaced fairly often.

 

[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.