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Carbon Monoxide Testing
Randy R. Farris owner and proprietor of Farris Inspection Service is one of the few inspectors in the state of Washington that is certified in carbon monoxide and combustion testing. He was trained at the National Comfort Institute and is now a Certified Carbon Monoxide and Combustion Analyst. #C0602003. Randy can test your home and all of your combustion appliances (furnace, water heaters, boilers, gas stoves, gas fireplaces, oil furnaces etc.) for unsafe operating conditions and carbon monoxide production.
Why do you need carbon monoxide testing?
Carbon Monoxide is the #1 cause of poisonings in the U.S. Did you know that 30,000 people die and 3,000,000 people get sick yearly from carbon monoxide poisoning. Yet less than 5% of all CO Poisonings are reported! The safe and efficient operation of your heating equipment and other combustion appliances cannot be determined without testing using a calibrated combustion analyzer. Because the technology, instruments and training to do this testing correctly has only been available for a few years, odds are it's never been done. Farris Inspection Service is certified to properly test and diagnose potential CO exposure.
Carbon Monoxide in an Occupied Space
Reactions to various levels of CO will differ from person to another, but the following concentrations and symptoms are typical. Small children and older people will show symptoms faster and at lower levels.
These CO level symptoms are typical for healthy adults only.
| 9 PPM |
Maximum allowable short term exposure in a living area.
| | 10-34 PPM | Considered normal from traffic or an unvented stove, but testing should be done to identify the source of the CO and correct it.
Long-term exposures to low levels cause far more damage than the few well publicized effects of high-level exposure.
| | 35 PPM | The maximum allowable concentration allowable for an 8-hour period,
| | 36-99 PPM | Turn off all gas appliances and open windows. Infant deaths have
been recorded at these levels
| | 36-99 PPM | Turn off all gas appliances and open windows. Infant deaths have
been recorded at these levels
| | 100 PPM | Discontinue testing and Contact 911. CO levels can increase very rapidly causing extremely unsafe conditions
| | 200 PPM | Will produce headache, tiredness, dizziness and nausea after 2-3 hours.
| | 800 PPM | Will cause unconsciousness in less than 2 hours, and death in 2-3 hours.
| | 1600 PPM | Will cause death in 1 hour, symptoms will appear immediately.
| | 12,800 PPM | Will cause death in 1-3 minutes
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National Comfort Institute 2002-03
Facts About Carbon Monoxide Testing:
- Did you know that 95% of all Furnace or HVAC servicemen have not been trained in combustion testing or carbon monoxide safety training? Most servicemen clean and vacuum. If your serviceman does not have a calibrated combustion analyzer, send him home.
- Over 98% of all Home Inspectors have no clue about combustion testing, know what the combustion measures indicate or have training in carbon monoxide safety? Furthermore most inspectors' idea of a Carbon monoxide test is to turn on a CO meter and test a register. Testing a register will tell you nothing about your combustion appliance.
- When the fire dept. comes to your home to test, they do not perform a combustion analysis and will most likely misdiagnose your problem?
- Combustion analyzers are relatively new, the first units being manufactured in the early 90s and are just presently starting to infiltrate the tool boxes of furnace personnel, utility workers etc. With combustion analyzers we are just now realizing how common problems are with fuel burning appliances, faulty combustion and the Carbon Monoxide by products, faulty combustion produces.
- Low level CO poisoning has been implicated in many other health problems. Elderly people spend a great deal of time indoors. Doctors often misdiagnose low level CO poisoning. Or the CO poisoning brings about respiratory, neurological or cardiovascular problems that are deemed normal for people of this age group. Autopsies are not performed. Infants and children are also very susceptible to CO illness's because their low body mass multiplies the effects of low level exposure.
What causes Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels: wood, oil, coal, and gas that are used in furnaces, boilers, water heaters, stoves, fireplaces etc.
Dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide can accumulate in your home due to poor installation of fuel burning appliances, improper venting or inadequate combustion air, poor maintenance, poor drafting , depressurization (back drafting), dirt, rust or mechanical misalignment of components, fuel not burning properly, or leaking ventilation systems.
What are some sources of Carbon Monoxide?
Any of your fuel burning appliances, furnaces, water heaters, boilers, gas space heaters. Unvented kerosene and propane or gas space heaters, generators, car engines, lawn mower engines, Bar-B-Ques, or charcoal cooking appliances, gas cook tops and ovens, electric ovens on the self cleaning cycle.
Call for a Full Home Inspection today.
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