Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that results from incomplete combustion. CO is a natural by-product of gas combustion and a certain measure of CO will be produced by all gas burning appliances. In general, readings of 25 to 35 ppm, averaged for the area and time, are acceptable limits. High levels of CO can be harmful or deadly, as CO replaces oxygen in the bloodstream and can result in a condition called hypoxia, where the body is deprived of needed oxygen. A CO
detector reading warrants looking at all of the factors involved,
which include the gas log set; the environment in which the gas log
set operates; the CO detector; and other sources of CO in and around
the house.
Attached
are troubleshooting information for you to explore. There is quite a bit of items to consider because there is no single cause.
Several
things for you to look at and consider:
Inspect
the air intakes around the burner air shutters. If they have become
clogged with lint or dust it can negatively impact combustion
performance.
Ensure
that there are no gas leaks. Raw natural gas or propane will result
in high CO readings.
Please
ensure that the installation instructions have been followed,
especially with regard to the cleanliness of the firebox, the size
of the firebox, the placement of the logs and the installation of
the glowing embers (small, loose pieces).
The
national unvented heater standard (ANSI Z21.11.2) to which all
Chillbusters are certified, has the strictest limits for Carbon
Monoxide (CO) of all gas burning appliances. The CO limit for a gas
burning kitchen range (also an unvented appliance) allows four times
the CO permitted for an unvented heater. The ANSI standard allows up
to 25 ppm of CO to be present in the combustion gases of an unvented
heater.
Carbon
monoxide will be present in all types of burning. A person inhales
2000-6000 ppm of CO with each puff of a cigarette. I have measured
candles giving off up to 25 ppm of CO. Government guidelines allow
up to 35 ppm exposure in an eight hour period.
New
CO detectors may needs a seven day warm-up period before reading will
have any accuracy. They can be unduly influenced by vapors from
petroleum, alcohols, household aerosols or increased indoor humidity
(of which a vent-free gas log set contributes one quart of water
every hour when burned at 40,000 BTU/hour).
The
most common cause of elevated CO readings in a house is due to
automobile exhaust from attached garages. The second most is
cigarette and cigar smoking indoors.