Appliance Safety

Carbon Monoxide
Furnace Safety
Furnace Recalls
Water Heaters
Natural Gas Fireplace Logs
Attic Insulation

Carbon Monoxide

To help keep your gas appliances operating safely and efficiently, The Gas Company or a licensed heating contractor or plumber should check your gas appliances every year. Not performing annual maintenance may result in inefficient appliance operation, and in some cases dangerous exposure to carbon monoxide.

What causes carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is formed when carbon-based fuels, such as kerosene, gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, charcoal or wood, are burned with inadequate amounts of oxygen, creating a condition known as incomplete combustion. In the case of home gas appliances, this can be caused by improper installation, poor maintenance, or other appliance misuse or failure.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

When incomplete combustion occurs in your home’s gas appliances, carbon monoxide is produced, and this can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning of you and your family. The early stages of carbon monoxide poisoning produce unexplained flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and mental confusion. Since carbon monoxide displaces the oxygen in the blood, prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to death by asphyxiation.

Signs that may indicate the presence of carbon monoxide

• A yellow, large and unsteady gas appliance burner flame (with the exception of decorative gas log appliances).
• An unusual pungent odor when the appliance is operating. This may indicate the creation of aldehydes, a by-product of incomplete combustion.
• Unexplained nausea, drowsiness and flu-like symptoms.

What to do if you suspect carbon monoxide is present in your home:

• Immediately turn off and stop using the suspected gas appliance.
• Seek medical attention if anyone in the home experiences possible carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms.
• Contact The Gas Company at 1-800-427-2200 or a licensed heating contractor or plumber immediately to have the appliance inspected.
• Don’t use the suspected gas appliance until it has been inspected, serviced and determined to be safe by The Gas Company or a licensed heating contractor or plumber.

How to maintain and use gas appliances to prevent carbon monoxide

• Vacuum around burner compartments, and inspect and replace furnace filters on forced-air units or central heating systems according to manufacturer instructions.
• Make sure to properly replace the front panels of a forced-air unit or the burner compartment door of a gas wall heater.
• Never store anything near a gas appliance that might interfere with normal appliance airflow.
• Have all gas appliances and venting repairs done by a qualified and licensed heating or plumbing contractor.
• In higher altitude areas, where snow can accumulate on rooftops, ensure that gas appliance intake and exhaust vents are clear of obstructions.
• When using your gas fireplace, make sure the damper is open.
• Never use your gas oven for space heating.
• Gas appliance maintenance is always the homeowner’s responsibility. However, The Gas Company will perform appliance safety checks upon request.

Should you worry about carbon monoxide?

Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from natural gas appliances is statistically rare. During the last 20 years, the number of deaths related to unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning has declined substantially. However, while the chance of dying from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from a home gas appliance is rare, it is still essential to perform regular maintenance on your home gas appliances to ensure your safety. For these reasons, it is recommended that you have your gas furnace checked at least once a year by The Gas Company or a licensed heating contractor or plumber.

Carbon monoxide home alarms

The decision on whether or not to purchase and install a carbon monoxide alarm is one of personal choice. Alarms may provide an extra level of safety, but they also require routine maintenance and replacement at least every three to five years to perform properly. Even with alarms in place, regular gas appliance maintenance is still required. Inspection and routine maintenance are still the best defense against accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from natural gas appliances.

Furnace Safety

It is important to maintain your furnace for safety and operating efficiency. Follow the tips listed below for the types of furnace in your home. Never use your oven, range or outdoor barbecue to heat your home because these appliances are not designed for this purpose.

Floor Furnace

• Avoid lint build-up by vacuuming floor furnace regularly.
  
• Keep children away from the grill, as it gets very hot.
  
• Avoid fires - don't place rugs, furniture or combustible items over the grill or block the airflow.

Wall Furnace

• Clean inside the burner compartment of built-in vented wall furnaces once a month during the heating season to prevent lint build-up.

Central Gravity Furnace

• Keep furnace heat registers free of obstructions.
  
• Don't store items nearby which might stop the airflow.

Central Forced-Air Heating

• Many gas furnaces use air from the room to operate. Lint and dust carried by air, or items stored in or around the furnace can block airflow. In order to operate safely and efficiently, your gas furnace must be kept free of dust and lint build-up or other obstructions stored near the furnace, such as newspapers or cleaning equipment.
  
• Most forced-air furnaces have a filter that cleans the air before heating and circulating it throughout the home. The filter should be checked monthly for lint build-up during periods of furnace use and cleaned or replaced if necessary.
  
• When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure to re-install the front panel door of the furnace properly so it fits snugly. Never operate the furnace without the front-panel door properly in place because doing so may create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
  
  • Most newer forced-air furnaces have a safety switch that prevents furnace operation when the filter compartment door/panel is not in place. Some older forced-air furnaces do not have a safety switch and can be operated with the filter compartment door/panel off or not properly in place.
  • These older furnaces, when installed in a closet and operated with the panel/door not in place, will circulate carbon monoxide throughout the house.

CAUTION: Unvented gas heaters are unsafe

Using an unvented gas heater in your home is a violation of the California Health and Safety Code. These heaters are not approved for use in homes because --

• Poor operation can result in an accumulation of hazardous fumes.
  
• Unless a room heater has enough air from an outside vent or an open window, all of the oxygen in a room can be used up, resulting in illness or death.
  
• The flames in these heaters are not fully covered, which could result in fires.
  
• Never use your oven, range or outdoor barbecue to heat your home because these appliances are not designed for this purpose

Furnace Recalls

California Furnaces Recalled by CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a furnace repair or replacement program for certain horizontally mounted forced air furnaces manufactured by Consolidated Industries and located in attics.

Further information is available at the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Water Heaters

• All gas appliances have a main burner flame and many also have a pilot flame. To reduce the risk of flammable vapors being ignited by these flames, follow these tips:
  
  • Water heaters installed in garages must be elevated so the pilot or other source of ignition is a minimum of 18 inches above the floor or installed per local building codes or the manufacturers’ installation instructions.
  • Never store or use flammable products such as gasoline, paint thinner, or cleaning products in the same room or near any gas or heat-producing appliance.
    
• Earthquakes can cause improperly secured water heaters to move or topple. To help prevent this, strap it firmly to the wall studs in two places -- the upper and lower one-third of the tank -- with heavy bolts and metal tape. Be sure to place the lower strap at least 4 inches above the thermostat controls. Kits are often available at your local hardware store.
  
• Lower water heater temperature to prevent scalding accidents. Water temperatures above 125 degrees can cause severe burns or even death.
  

Natural Gas Fireplace Logs

• To help avoid serious accidents, the damper must be kept open on a permanent basis.

Attic Insulation

Attic insulation can help lower your energy bills. Improperly installed installation, however, can create a fire hazard. Be sure to use the following tips for a new and existing attic insulation.

• Keep insulation away from all heat source, furnaces, water heaters, recessed light fixtures, fan motors, doorbell transformers, chimney, flues and vents.
  
• Install barrier made of non-combustible material around the above heat sources.
  
• Keep insulation away from all bare wire or ”knob and tube” wiring.
  
• Keep the air supply openings to the forced-air furnace free of any insulation.
  
• Leave attic or eave vents uncovered.
  
• Periodically check attic for insulation movement.
  
• Contact a state-licensed insulation contractor if you have any questions about proper installation.