Bronte Wells
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, and toxic gas that is impossible to detect without specialised equipment. It is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds, such as vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, and generators. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause a range of health issues, from fatigue and chest pain to impaired vision, reduced brain function, and even death.
While carbon monoxide does not directly contribute to climate change, it does react with other elements in the atmosphere to produce methane and ozone, which are two of the most significant human-caused climate change contributors. As such, reducing carbon monoxide emissions can have a positive impact on both air quality and climate change mitigation.
Some ways to reduce carbon monoxide pollution include adopting stricter emissions standards for vehicles, improving industrial furnaces and residential stoves, reducing deforestation, and increasing the use of mass transit. Additionally, ensuring proper ventilation, maintaining combustion equipment, and using exhaust fans can help reduce exposure to carbon monoxide in homes and buildings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sources of Carbon Monoxide | Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces, generators and other gasoline-powered equipment, automobile exhaust from attached garages, auto, truck, or bus exhaust from nearby roads or parking areas, incomplete oxidation during combustion in gas ranges, and unvented gas or kerosene heaters, worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g. boilers, furnaces) |
| Health Effects of Carbon Monoxide | At low concentrations: fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At moderate concentrations: reduced brain function. At higher concentrations: impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. Fatal at very high concentrations. |
| Reducing Carbon Monoxide Pollution | Ensuring combustion equipment is maintained and properly adjusted, carefully managing vehicular use adjacent to buildings, increasing ventilation during temporary periods of high carbon monoxide levels, keeping gas appliances properly adjusted, using vented space heaters, using proper fuel in kerosene space heaters, installing exhaust fans vented outdoors over gas stoves, opening flues when fireplaces are in use, choosing properly sized and certified wood stoves, annual inspection, cleaning, and tune-up of central heating systems, promptly repairing leaks, not idling cars inside garages |
What You'll Learn
Maintain combustion equipment and keep it properly adjusted
Maintaining combustion equipment and keeping it properly adjusted is essential to reducing carbon monoxide pollution. Here are some detailed steps to achieve this:
Optimum Air-to-Fuel Ratios
Maintaining the lowest possible excess air ratio can lead to significant energy savings. This means optimising the ratio of air to fuel in the combustion process, which can be finely adjusted to ensure the most efficient burning of fuel, reducing waste and pollution.
Regular Oil Changes
Changing the oil regularly is critical, especially for older vehicles. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the type of oil and the frequency of changes. This ensures efficient engine operation and prolongs the engine's life.
Oil and Air Filter Changes
Changing the oil filter is just as important as changing the oil itself. The oil filter collects particulates and solids that would otherwise contaminate the oil, leading to engine damage over time. Air filters should also be changed regularly as they trap dirt, dust, pollen, and debris, preventing them from entering the engine and causing damage.
Coolant Checks and Changes
Internal combustion engines generate a lot of heat, and while engine oil helps, it is the coolant that absorbs and dissipates most of the heat. Over time, the coolant's ability to absorb heat diminishes, and it may also leak, leading to low coolant levels. Therefore, it is essential to regularly check and change the coolant to prevent heat damage to the engine.
Prevent Fuel Gelling
In cold temperatures, fuel filters can become clogged, restricting fuel flow to the engine. Using a fuel stabilizer helps prevent this issue, ensuring your engine runs efficiently and reducing the risk of engine damage due to clogged filters.
By following these maintenance steps and keeping combustion equipment properly adjusted, you can significantly reduce carbon monoxide pollution, improve fuel efficiency, and extend the lifespan of your equipment.
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Use a vented space heater
A vented space heater is an excellent way to reduce carbon monoxide pollution in your home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, and deadly gas created whenever combustion occurs. It is present in campfire smoke, cigarette smoke, automotive exhaust, and is produced by gas stoves, fireplaces, generators, and propane, oil, and gas heaters.
A vented space heater is a heater that uses a vent to remove combustion byproduct gases from the space being heated. This is in contrast to unvented or "ventless" heaters, which release gases directly into the room. By using a vented heater, you can avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide in your home.
There are two main types of venting systems: natural draft venting and forced-air venting. Natural draft venting uses the heat and natural draft of air into a fireplace to allow combustion byproduct gases to escape through a chimney. This is an older method that has been shown to result in efficiency losses in heating and cooling. Forced-air venting, on the other hand, uses fan motors to actively push combustion byproduct gases out of the home. This is a newer method that allows the home to be protected from outside conditions while still venting carbon monoxide.
It is important to ensure that your vented space heater is correctly installed and maintained. Over time, the heat exchanger, an essential component of forced-air heat systems, can become damaged, leading to a crack that allows carbon monoxide to leak into the air. Regular maintenance and inspections by a qualified technician can help prevent this. Additionally, consider installing a carbon monoxide detector near your space heater and on all floors of your home as an extra layer of protection.
By using a vented space heater and taking the necessary precautions, you can effectively reduce carbon monoxide pollution in your home and keep your family safe.
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Use the proper fuel in kerosene space heaters
Kerosene space heaters are a potential source of carbon monoxide pollution, especially if the wrong type of fuel is used. To reduce carbon monoxide pollution, it is imperative to use the proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
Kerosene heaters are designed to burn 1-K grade kerosene, which is crystal clear and free of impurities. Using any other type of fuel, such as gasoline, yellow or contaminated kerosene, or camp stove fuel, can be extremely dangerous and lead to fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Even small quantities of the wrong fuel in a kerosene heater can have devastating consequences.
Only crystal-clear, 1-K grade kerosene should be used in kerosene heaters. This type of kerosene is specifically designed for indoor heating appliances and has a low sulphur content. Burning coloured or cloudy kerosene will result in increased indoor pollution levels due to higher sulphur dioxide emissions. Additionally, the wick of the heater can become clogged with impurities, leading to poor combustion and increased carbon monoxide production.
It is also important to ensure that the kerosene is stored properly and not mixed with other fuels. Kerosene should be stored outside in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, clearly labelled "kerosene". Mixing gasoline and kerosene, or even using a gasoline can to store kerosene, can be hazardous.
When refuelling a kerosene heater, it is crucial to allow it to cool down completely before adding fuel. Refuelling a hot heater can be extremely dangerous, akin to "playing with dynamite". Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for refuelling and never fill the tank beyond the "full" mark, as the fuel expands as it warms up and could spill over, causing a fire hazard.
In addition to using the proper fuel, it is essential to maintain adequate ventilation when operating a kerosene heater. Kerosene heaters consume oxygen during combustion, reducing the oxygen levels in the room. Inadequate ventilation can lead to incomplete combustion of fuel and the production of carbon monoxide. Keep doors to other rooms open and ensure a constant source of fresh air by opening a window slightly when using the heater.
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Install exhaust fans over gas stoves
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is impossible to see, taste, or smell. It is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon fuels, such as the burning of fossil fuels in gas stoves. As a result, it is crucial to install exhaust fans over gas stoves to reduce carbon monoxide pollution and protect human health.
Exhaust fans installed over gas stoves should be vented to the outdoors to effectively remove contaminated air from the building. Ducted hoods are the best option, as they suck in the contaminated air and vent it outside. When installing a ducted hood, ensure that the hood is placed between 24 and 30 inches (61 and 76 centimeters) from the stovetop. If the hood is too high, it will be less effective. Additionally, make sure to use the exhaust fan every time you cook and keep it on during the entire cooking process.
For spaces where ductwork is not feasible, such as in crowded apartment buildings, simple fans can be used as a substitute. However, these fans only capture grease and some particulates through a filter and do not effectively remove pollutants. In such cases, opening a window in the kitchen is recommended to improve ventilation.
It is important to note that while exhaust fans are crucial for reducing carbon monoxide pollution, they should not be solely relied upon. Regular maintenance and adjustment of gas appliances are also necessary to ensure they are functioning properly and not emitting dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
By installing and properly using exhaust fans over gas stoves, you can significantly improve indoor air quality and reduce the health risks associated with carbon monoxide exposure.
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Choose wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates emissions from wood-burning stoves. The EPA's mandatory smoke emission limit for wood stoves was 4.5 grams of smoke per hour (g/h) under Step 1 of the revised standards of performance for wood-burning room heaters. This limit applied to all wood stoves certified under the 2015 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). Many room heaters certified under the 1988 NSPS also met this limit.
To ensure your wood stove meets EPA emission standards, look for the EPA certification label on the back of the stove. You can also check the current list of EPA-certified wood stoves online. Additionally, check for safety labelling by the Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC) or another testing and certification body.
In May 2020, the NSPS emission limit was lowered to 2.0 g/h if tested with crib wood, or 2.5 g/h if tested with cord wood. These new limits do not apply to existing wood stoves or other wood-burning heaters currently in use. Retailers are allowed to sell EPA-certified stoves that do not comply with the new Step 1 emissions until December 31, 2015.
When choosing a wood stove, consider the size of the space you'll be heating. Wood stoves come in different sizes and can be sized to heat a single room or an entire home. Small stoves are suitable for heating a family room or a seasonal cottage, while large stoves are appropriate for larger, open-plan houses.
By choosing an EPA-certified wood stove and considering the size of your space, you can help reduce carbon monoxide pollution and improve air quality.
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Frequently asked questions
Sources of CO include unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces, generators and other gasoline-powered equipment, automobile exhaust from attached garages, and worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices.
The effects of CO exposure vary depending on age, health, and exposure concentration and length. At low concentrations, it can cause fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, it can cause impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. Very high concentrations of CO can be fatal.
It is important to ensure that combustion equipment is maintained and properly adjusted. Additionally, consider the following:
- Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.
- Use a vented space heater instead of an unvented one.
- Use the proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
- Install and use an exhaust fan vented to the outdoors over gas stoves.
- Open flues when using fireplaces.
- Choose properly sized wood stoves that meet EPA emission standards, and ensure the doors fit tightly.
- Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune up the central heating system annually.
- Do not idle your car inside a garage.
Some long-term solutions to reduce CO pollution include reforestation, improving forest management, adopting stricter emissions standards for vehicles, and expanding reliance on mass transit.
While CO does not directly contribute to global climate change, it reacts in the atmosphere to produce methane and ozone, which are two of the most significant contributors to human-induced climate change. Therefore, reducing CO emissions can have a positive impact on mitigating climate change.
