[Greenbuilding] Question on tight house, carbon monoxide

[KTOT (g)]

I actually watch them quite closely to keep them from boiling over. The CO 
level goes way up before they do occasionally boil over, however, 
definitely. The CO level goes up when the flames are burning properly blue.

No way could I have the stove vented outside when the house was built 
without huge additional cost--I had an expert builder and confirmed this at 
the time. Thus the alternative, a vent with carbon filter. No, it is not 
against code, at least not here, definitely.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Corwyn
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 12:19 PM
To: greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Question on tight house, carbon monoxide

On 2/17/2012 1:40 PM, KTOT (g) wrote:
>
> Every time I make soup or jams (or other canning which involves
> sterilizing then heat processing the jars in boiling water), both of
> which involve boiling liquid for multiple hours, my digital CO alarms
> read above the safe levels so I end up opening doors, even on cold
> winter days and nights, to let the CO out. I do keep one alarm near the
> kitchen, but the one in the bedroom also gets very high readings. These
> are both brand-name, brand new CO alarms as well so I trust them (plus
> once when I forgot to check them, a regular CO alarm did go off in the
> same circumstances).

My guess would be that those things are boiling over a bit and adding a
bit of liquid water to the flames causing them to burn less efficiently.
  Do you occasionally see yellow flames?  I see the same thing when my
sweetie makes jam.

> I do run the exhaust fan, which is the kind that has a filter but is not
> vented to the outside (due to the location of the stove and fan).

A vent fan not vented to the outside is useless as regards CO or CO2.


Note that CO is result of incomplete burning, while CO2 is a result of
complete burning.  You do not want too high a concentration of either.

I would recommend either a vent fan which actually vents to the outside
(note in my very lax jurisdiction, what you have would be against the
code), or an HRV or ERV with a boost switch near the stove.

Thank You Kindly,

Corwyn

-- 
Topher Belknap
Green Fret Consulting
Kermit didn't know the half of it...
http://www.greenfret.com/
topher at greenfret.com
(207) 882-7652

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