Carbon monoxide in the NEW days ?

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Gene

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Mar 2, 2006
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I saw the current thread "Carbon monoxide in the old days ?" but didnt want to butt in to that thread, so I'll start a new one..


I have a constant Smell of smoke and minor headaches after a few hours when running my pellet stove. I have had my dealer out a few times (3 so far and another is scheduled) and they find No problems and cant even smell the smoke. out or curiousity I put my CO detector in front of the vent for the Distribution.. no readings ( its usual location is about 10 feet away and 3 feet above the stove - also never any readings). I have run the self test on it a couple times and that shows as fine. I realize maybe the detector is still faulty and I would replace it except the dealer has sent 2 different service guys and BOTH have told me that a CO detector will NOT detect any CO emmissions from a pellet stove. I find this hard to believe.. so the question is.. are they “misinformed”??????
 
no- the thing is Extremely Silent. I only hear a minor Tinkling when pellets drop. And its not only me, other family members get the headaches also
 
Does the stove have an outside air kit or does it draw its combustion air from inside the house?
 
insert or freestanding?
how is the exhast pipe run?
move the CO detector around maybe to the next floor up or down see if you get a reading. It may be coming in through another area of the house.
 
Freestanding
Exhaust goses straight out wall then up about 4' then Horiz again for another foot with a hood- They sealed all seams with generous amounts of sealant ( this was a few months ago, so no lingering fumes or burn off)
I only get the headaches in that room, So I doubt its coming back in from somwhere else. but I can try that..

My Biggest question right now is that a CO detector SHOULD dectect something right? The service guys are wrong when they say it shouldnt? The detector I currently have has a display with current ppm showing which is zero - so its not like its detecting some, but not enough to set it off.

I'm going to make a HD run in a few hours, I'm thinking of buying a new detector IF they are suppose to work in this situation. If they are, what kind/ type is recomended.. and what should I stay away from?
 
Yes they should detect something. Not sure if some with displays won't show anything till it reaches a certain PPM or not.
I think you could try another one but not sure if the result would be the same or not.
You could get a CO sniffer and that would show you how many ppm.
Good luck.
 
Expand you research to other appliances like hot water heaters and your furnace. possibly a gas dryer

Most fire depts have better gas sensing devices you might give them a call to make a check

one can also experience headaches from oxegen depletion is your outside air vent clean and having no obstructions is it connected right is it plugged at the stove connection
same questions one should know about the exhaust venting
 
The headaches only occur in the room with the pellet stove, no other appliances in there, and only when the pellet stove is running. and again there is the Smell of smoke when its running, so there is a leak somehow, somewhere with the stove. The exhaust vent is very clean, and air intake is also unobstructed. I'll pick up some smokebombs today and look for a leak that way.
But again, in the meantime any detector recomendations?
 
UL has defined testing limits and product qualifications so check for the UL listing I don't know if one brand is better than another firex ve first alert or others.
My suggestion is to goggle whic co detector is best maybe there is a study out there that has done the comparisons If you find one plese post the results or at least a link

If you smell smoke, there is something wrong. I would also suspect the door gasket also read the manual to determine that each fresh air and exhaust vents are installed correctly ans their locations in relationship to one another (separation distance) What about corner installations and proximity to overhangs. Check it all out
 
The service person told you that a CO detector will not detect CO from a pellet stove. I didn't do well in science in school but could someone please explain the difference between carbon monoxide from a woodburing stove versus carbon monoxide from a pellet stove?
 
If you smell smoke, then there is still a leak. If the smoke smell is not present at all, then I would look elsewhere. One thing that would help is to know what brand/model of pellet stove you have. Does the house have an air intake for ventilation anywhere near the exhaust outlet of the stove? Are there soffit vents above the exhaust?

If not the stove, <this is a long shot>, but were there any other renovations done to the room where the pellet stove is installed? I'm thinking new carpet, countertops, etc. Perhaps something is outgassing with the additional heat generated in the room when the pellet stove is running? That too can be the source of headaches.
 
In addition to the door gasket his ash pan is externaly mounted and has alot of potential leaks too.
I believe its an advance not 100% sure though.
 
Have you tried holding the CO detector in front the stove and then opening the door while burning? Chances are it will spill since the volume of air is too great for the combustion fan and pellet pipe diameter to evacuate.

Remember, the firebox and doors are in the negative zone. After the exhaust/combustion blower it is positive pressure. If you are smelling smoke it is likely that you have a small leak somewhere in the positive pressure zone, and it is recirculatiing back into the negative zone. Not all Outside Air kits are directly connected to the air inlet of the stove. Most are passive. Make sure the OSA pipe is properly placed in relation to the vent outlet. Check the manual. Also, check the joints of the pipe on the outside of the building. ALL joints should be sealed even if they ae outside, especially if using an outside air inlet.
 
Another idea........contact your local FD. They should have a high end CO detector. Make an appointment and have them come over and do an air sample to see if they get any readings. If not then it may be something else.
 
Ok dont take this the wrong way

Could it be in your mind?

But turn off the stove for a few days do you still have the headache. Has the stove completed it burn it and it not off gassing its paint fumes?

Lately we have been running our pellet stoves in the shop for an hour or so to let the off gas prior to installing them.

Could your headache be caused handling the pellets them self (dust)

Could it be from straining your eyes to watch the fire?

CO is dangerous. I am in the heating and cooling industry as well as the hearth industry, our service tecs run with a pump style CO detector, also the local utility company also has them. You may be able to have the utility company stop by and check the home. Or see if the local hvac contractor in your area have them it would be well worth the price of a service call to have the piece of mind knowing your not getting CO poisoning

I have one in my truck also,we do allot of gas unit and every know and then we get a customer calling with the concern of an odor from there new fire place and I can run over and test the room to assure them there is no chance of CO coming from there new appliance .

Best of luck getting an answer.
 
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