WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CARBON MONOXIDE?
Although many products of combustion can cause discomfort and adverse health effects, it is carbon monoxide (CO) that presents the greatest threat to life. CO is produced by incomplete combustion of fuels such as natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, gasoline or wood. The incomplete combustion of fuel can occur in any device that depends on burning for energy or heat such as furnaces, boilers, room heaters, hot water heaters, stoves or grills and in any gasoline powered vehicle or engine. Tobacco smoke also adds CO to the air you breathe. When properly installed and maintained, a natural gas furnace and hot water heater do not pollute your air space with carbon monoxide. Natural gas is known as a “clean burning” fuel because under correct operating conditions the combustion products are water vapour and carbon dioxide, which are not toxic. Carbon dioxide is present in the air we exhale and is necessary for plant life. The products of combustion are vented from fu
