Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Wood Burning Fireplace and Chimney Safety
Carbon Monoxide is a Health and Safety Risk
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a health and safety concern when operating a wood burning fireplace, woodstove gas fireplace or heating appliance or equipment. CO is created by incomplete combustion of the fuel when the ideal fuel to air ratio is not maintained.
Heating Appliances Produce Carbon Monoxide
Any appliance or equipment that utilizes fuel combustion for heat generation, also produces carbon monoxide as a byproduct. The level of carbon monoxide produced by a fireplace or heating appliance varies greatly depending on the design, fuel type, the venting, oxygen content in the air, elevation, the condition of the appliance, the location and floor level the appliance is installed, the local climate, outdoor temperature, and various other factors.
Characteristics of Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide flames can be characterised by a yellow \ orange - red flames that are commonly observed in wood burning fireplaces and solid fuel appliances. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless highly poisonous gas that has a specific gravity of 0.9667, similar density to air. Carbon monoxide is very flammable and is bright blue when burned in air.
Venting Appliance Chimney Exhaust and Spillage
When a wood burning or gas appliance uses natural draft to exhaust the appliance's flue gasses to the exterior of your home, your house must maintain air pressure balance to avoid gas spillages that can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. A dirty, blocked or poorly functioning venting system can contribute to carbon monoxide spillage into your home.
House Depressurisation and Air Pressure Balance to Avoid CO Poisoning
Your home must compensate for the negative pressure produced from exhausting gasses to the exterior by bringing in fresh air from the outdoors to. The make-up air provides combustion oxygen to the fireplace or woodstove. Failure to maintain supply air can result in depressurisation, CO spillage and other health and fire safety issues.
How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - Wood Burning Appliances
Carbon Monoxide Detector
- Make sure a functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detector is installed and functioning in the same room as the wood burning or gas appliance.
Fireplace Damper Function
- Open the damper before lighting a fire. Use a flashlight and look up to ensure the damper is secure in the fully open position. Dampers should not be used to damper down fireplace units, rather they should always maintain a fully open position when in the fireplace is in use. Air controls are specific to air tight units such as wood stoves, or wood burning insert appliances.
- Only when the fire is completely out should the wood burning fireplace damper be closed. The human eye will not observe small amounts of gasses that are produced in a warm fireplace ash bed.
Adequate Air Supply
- Open your air supply, a nearby door or window. Lot's of air is required to prevent depressurisation and to supply combustion oxygen.
Firewood - Use Dry Well Seasoned Firewood
Only using dry well seasoned wood will help achieve a clean burning fire. The wood species is not as important as the moisture content in the wood. Firewood should have a moisture content of less than 20%. Harvest or purchase your firewood at least six months before burning season, split, stack and store the firewood to establish optimum conditions.
Annual Chimney Inspections
To ensure your wood burning system is in good working order, the installation is compliant with applicable codes and standards, and is free of hazardous conditions, have your chimney inspected by a Qualified Chimney Professional.
The fire code requires that all chimney, flue and flue pipes be inspected at least annually.
The fire code requires that all chimney, flue and flue pipes be inspected at least annually.
Have your Chimney Swept Regularly
The process of wood burning produces a combustible substance defined as creosote . To avoid a chimney fire and to maintain your wood burning appliance, have your chimney swept.
Regular Maintenance
Regular fireplace and wood stove maintenance is required to ensure the appliance is functioning properly. Gaskets on wood-stoves, inserts or fireplaces with air sealing doors should be maintained. Firebricks or refractory panels, baffles, water leak penetrations zones, baffles, dampers, chimney, vents and flues
Learn How to Use Your Fireplace and Burn Wood Properly
Learn how to use your wood burning appliance properly. If the unit is factory built (metal), read the manufacturers manual. Educating yourself on how to load the unit, load and burn a fire, system maintenance will establish better fire management and safety practises. Burning a fire in your home comes with a responsibility to fire safety.
Upgrade Your Fireplace to a New Efficient Fireplace with Better Safety Features
An efficient and clean burning wood burning fireplace or wood stove is economical to operate and vents less fine particulate matter to our outdoor breathing air. CSA B415.1-10 (R2015) - Performance testing of solid-fuel-burning heating appliances is a Canadian standard that tests wood burning appliances. The standard covers appliance thermal efficiency, appliance heat outputs, thermal efficiencies, emissions, flue gas venting flow rates, and heat production. New Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an American government agency with clean air standards for residential wood heaters. The EPA emissions limits vary depending on the type of wood or pellet appliance.
Emissions
Firewood
System & Chimney Evaluation
Sweep your Chimney
Maintenance
Regular fireplace and wood stove maintenance is required to ensure the appliance is functioning properly. Gaskets on woodstoves, inserts or fireplaces with air sealing doors should be maintained. Firebricks or refractory panels, baffles, water leak penetrations zones, baffles, dampers, chimney, vents and flues
Smart Burning
Upgrade your Fireplace or Woodstove
