Randy West
11-17-2017, 07:40 PM
todays inspection:
10 year old 2600sf duplex townhome. A good quality home with 3 gas appliances. The furnace is in the attic (typical here) with combustion air from soffit and roof attic vents. There is a vented gas-only fireplace with auto pilot (pilot is only on when burner is on). And a gas water heater in a lower level closet, combustion air from interior through louvered door. This is open to both levels- a very large downstairs family room, and the kitchen/living/dining above. (The range is electric.)
The home has been vacant for months. I turned on my monoxor II (calibrated within last year, used daily) in the kitchen and picked up 12 ppm CO. I had not turned on the furnace or fireplace. I took the detector outside and it dropped to 1 ppm. Back inside it was reading 11 to 12 ppm in every room. Took it downstairs to the water heater closet and turned on the wh, a little puff (went to 14 ppm) near the vent pipe which is not unusual for a conventional tank wh. Started the furnace and fireplace and no CO in the supply air or near the fireplace.
I cannot figure this out. The furnace had not been on, the fireplace had not been on, and the CO by the wh was no more than in the upper level bedrooms. There were no openings between the garage and home, or to the adjacent home, including through the attic. Home is on a dead end road, no traffic or heavy equipment nearby, and all doors and windows were closed when I arrived. Slab floor and a well ventilated attic. Yet there was 12 ppm CO in every room in the home.
After completing the rest of the inspection I put new batteries in my detector (didn't need them) and repeated the test. The detector went to 1 ppm outside, but 11 to 12 ppm in every room, but no more near the wh or when I started the furnace or fireplace.
Any ideas?
10 year old 2600sf duplex townhome. A good quality home with 3 gas appliances. The furnace is in the attic (typical here) with combustion air from soffit and roof attic vents. There is a vented gas-only fireplace with auto pilot (pilot is only on when burner is on). And a gas water heater in a lower level closet, combustion air from interior through louvered door. This is open to both levels- a very large downstairs family room, and the kitchen/living/dining above. (The range is electric.)
The home has been vacant for months. I turned on my monoxor II (calibrated within last year, used daily) in the kitchen and picked up 12 ppm CO. I had not turned on the furnace or fireplace. I took the detector outside and it dropped to 1 ppm. Back inside it was reading 11 to 12 ppm in every room. Took it downstairs to the water heater closet and turned on the wh, a little puff (went to 14 ppm) near the vent pipe which is not unusual for a conventional tank wh. Started the furnace and fireplace and no CO in the supply air or near the fireplace.
I cannot figure this out. The furnace had not been on, the fireplace had not been on, and the CO by the wh was no more than in the upper level bedrooms. There were no openings between the garage and home, or to the adjacent home, including through the attic. Home is on a dead end road, no traffic or heavy equipment nearby, and all doors and windows were closed when I arrived. Slab floor and a well ventilated attic. Yet there was 12 ppm CO in every room in the home.
After completing the rest of the inspection I put new batteries in my detector (didn't need them) and repeated the test. The detector went to 1 ppm outside, but 11 to 12 ppm in every room, but no more near the wh or when I started the furnace or fireplace.
Any ideas?