Carbon Monoxide Readings

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phulklip
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Post by phulklip » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 11:49 am

I have a Pioneer stove with a power vent. The manometer shows a reading of 3. I have several co detectors with the one closest to the stove being a digital type with the alarm set to go off at 30 ppm. The reading on the unit shows 11 ppm. Is there cause for concern? I'm vented properly and with a 100 year old house it's drafty.
Thanking you in advance

 
jrn8265
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Post by jrn8265 » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 11:51 am

ANY detected level of Carbon Monoxide is a concern. I would double check all pipes and seals!

 
murphyslaw
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Post by murphyslaw » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 12:25 pm

The SOP for my dept is we have to go on SCBA with any detectable levels over 10PPM. SO, If I would not be allowed in your home breathing your air. Just to look around, I don't think I will be living there.

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 12:47 pm

YES, anything over ZERO (00), would be a concern.!!!

Check to make sure your power vent is working correct and your draft is set correctly. Your gaskets are good, etc...

Is the stove NEW? Could be the NEWNESS of the paint curing on the stove or the pipe.

Sometimes when you open the ash door (to empty ashes) too long or the stove door itself, you will have a bit of CO leak into the room.

Have you Reset it back to 00? and then check it after a few hours or a day? Sometimes they keep the highest readings on them.

When I first fired my stove up with the door open and closed a couple times, I had like 200ppm on my CO, I opened the doors and let it run for a while, Reset my CO and it's been 00 ever since.


 
CapeCoaler
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Post by CapeCoaler » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 12:52 pm

Shut it down :!: ...
Ventilate the house...
Clean out the vent pipes and power venter...
Check for leaks after the power venter...
If you still have any CO readings after that...
Shut down and call an expert...
It ain't worth the risk...

 
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anthony7812
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Post by anthony7812 » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 12:53 pm

I have my stove in the basement, I do not have any co detector in a close prox to the stove. The manual actually recommends not too I believ for the same reason that was previously posted, having the door open for a small amount of time. I do have 3 meters located in various points in my house. One in living space, one in hallway by my daughters room and one by my cellar steps which is open(nice big air return) I have had a big fat 0 on my meters since a fired up. I wouldnt let anything go unchecked with any reading other than 0.

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 1:06 pm

I have one near both stoves and furnance (in basement), one in the living room and one near the bedrooms.

 
phulklip
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Post by phulklip » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 1:24 pm

I have found that the door gasket is bad. Stove is shut down and I'm airing out the house. Thank you all for helping to prevent a potiental disaster.

Paul


 
CapeCoaler
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Post by CapeCoaler » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 1:33 pm

Good to hear...
Too many sad stories in MA after the big snow...
In one, they actually had a working CO but it looks like they disassembled the detector... :shock:
Was on the bed with a good battery next to it...
The fire marshal reassembled it and it was fully functional... :mad:
End result...
Two people and two dogs dead...

 
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steamup
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Post by steamup » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 2:24 pm

Yes, CO leaks should be fixed immediately.

For sleeping areas, no CO amount should be acceptable.

Just a note, the OSHA Personal Exposure Limit for CO is 50 PPM average exposure over a 8 hr day. Removal of person from source if over 100 PPM.
A small amount of CO is not immediately deadly, but a concern. CO builds up in the bloodstream over time as the blood cell have a greater infinity for CO than Oxygen.

 
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AA130FIREMAN
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Post by AA130FIREMAN » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 3:23 pm

steamup wrote:
Just a note, the OSHA Personal Exposure Limit for CO is 50 PPM average exposure over a 8 hr day.
Don't the readings for ppm on the detector stand per hour ? I can start a snowblower, lawn tracter then take it outside, in a ranch style garage and have a 25 ppm reading in the basement, with the basement door kept closed, except to go threw it :P :(

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