CPSC Urges Seasonal Furnace Inspection to Prevent CO Poisonings
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2001
Release # 02-004
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC Urges Seasonal Furnace Inspection to Prevent CO Poisonings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the weather turns colder throughout much of the
country, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges
consumers to have a professional inspection of all fuel-burning
appliances - including furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers,
water heaters and space heaters - to detect deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
leaks.
These appliances burn fuels - typically gas, both natural and
liquefied petroleum; kerosene; oil; coal; and wood. Under certain
conditions, these appliances can produce deadly CO. However, with proper
installation and maintenance, they are safe to use. An annual inspection
and service is the first line of defense against this silent killer.
CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel. The
initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to flu, and include
headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. Exposure
to high levels of CO can cause death.
"Each year, CO poisoning associated with using fuel-burning
appliances kills about 200 people," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown.
"Having this inspection performed could prevent a terrible tragedy."
CPSC recommends that the yearly professional inspection include
checking chimneys, flues and vents for leakage and blockage by debris.
Birds, insects and other animals sometimes nest in vents and block
exhaust gases, causing the gases to enter the home. Leakage through
cracks or holes could cause black stains on the outside of the chimney
or flue. These stains and strange smells can mean that pollutants are
leaking into the house. In addition, have all vents to furnaces, water
heaters, boilers and other fuel-burning appliances checked to make sure
they are not loose or disconnected.
Have your appliances inspected for gas leaks and adequate
ventilation. A supply of fresh air is important to help carry pollutants
up the chimney, stovepipe or flue, and is necessary for the complete
combustion of any fuel. Never block ventilation air openings. Also, make
sure the appliance is operating on the fuel that it is designed to use.
An appliance must be modified by a professional to burn propane.
CPSC recommends that every home should have at least one CO alarm
that meets the requirements of the most recent Underwriters Laboratories
(UL) 2034 standard or International Approval Services 6-96 standard.
CPSC worked with UL to improve the CO alarm standard to improve the
reliability of alarms, and reduce the potential for nuisance alarming.
Consumers should also have the vent pipes on their heating systems
inspected. In 1998, CPSC worked with the furnace and boiler industry and
the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes to
conduct a vent pipe recall program. The program's purpose is to replace,
free of charge, an estimated 250,000 HTPV pipe systems attached to gas
or propane furnaces or boilers in consumers' homes. The HTPV pipes could
crack or separate at the joints and leak CO. Consumers should call the
recall hotline toll-free at (800) 758-3688, between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
ET, seven days a week, to verify that their appliance venting systems
are subject to this program.
CPSC continues to work with the furnace industry to develop new
technologies to address the hazards of CO poisoning and fire. Results
include a standard that added blocked-vent shut-off devices to protect
against blocked vent pipes and chimneys, and requirements to guard
against a vent pipe becoming separated from the furnace. Both of these
conditions could lead to CO poisonings. Also, all gas-fired furnaces
manufactured since 1987 have flame roll-out protection technology that
prevents flames from shooting out of the furnace's combustion chamber
and starting a fire.