Industry Insider Debunks  the Myths About Carbon Monoxide, Your Heating System and Your Health.    Find out if you are REALLY safe.  Even though your furnace passed inspection, you can still have hidden carbon monoxide issues. Learn one the Best Kept Secrets in the HVAC Business. Knowing about this cash-cow can save you a lot of money, frustration, and potential danger.  Hint:  if you hear the words "heat exchanger" and carbon monoxide in the same sentence, pay attention.  You are about to be taken to the cleaners! Read on and you'll find that you've been systematically misinformed for years.   The gas furnace industry has been passing on myths and half truths about carbon monoxide in the interest of "safety" and sales.  They've even managed to write some of these wives' tales into local ordinances and gas utility company operating procedures.  The net result has been increased costs to consumers, premature equipment replacement, delayed real estate transactions, difficulty getting occupancy permits and, most importantly, an almost total disregard for the real issues that affect gas furnace safety in the home.     From the desk of:  Gus Scorchio Date: Dear Home Owner,  As you read through this letter you'll understand why I was reluctant, at first, to compile and make some of this information available.  (I have more than 30 years in the HVAC business and have held positions as a mechanic, installer, sales representative, project manager, sales manager and upper management for some of the largest HVAC companies in North America so putting a bull's eye on my back required some thought.)  Few people associated with the industry will be happy with what's being disclosed.  HVAC contractors, service companies, natural and LP gas suppliers, safety and code enforcement authorities and even the US government  will all be somewhat embarrassed once this information gets into the hands of consumers. Why bother?  Why go through the headaches?  It's time someone spoke up.  Somehow safety issues have turned into a selling bonanza and excuse for systematic furnace replacement. At the same time, the real safety problems, the kind that causes death and injury, are being ignored. Almost every natural gas utility has mandated (made it part of their policy) that gas furnaces be replaced (or their heat exchangers replaced) if a hole or crack is detected.  Consequently, service companies make furnace heat exchanger checks their high priority when performing routine maintenance or repairs. In many locales, local ordinances require you to have the gas utility "inspect" your gas furnace to insure it operates safely and the heat exchanger is intact before a change in property ownership can take place.  In fact, if you are trying to sell your home, this is one area where you cannot negotiate with a potential buyer.  You are REQUIRED to replace the furnace (or heat exchanger) before the sale can proceed. This situation may appear to be OK from a safety standpoint, but consider the following: The reason heat exchangers appear to be critical to safety is that there is a misguided belief that a crack in a heat exchanger will allow carbon monoxide to enter a home.  This is a myth and I prove it.  The fear of carbon  monoxide from a heat exchanger crack is probably a hold over from the "old" days of pot-belly (round) heat exchangers and gas conversion burners or in-shot burners (circa 1950's.)  Splits in those heat exchangers caused problems with carbon monoxide entering the home.  In fact, gas conversion burners had the ability to "push" CO laden air into a home' s air stream and could produce high levels of carbon monoxide. Furnaces with heat exchangers made in the last 20 to 25 years do NOT emit carbon monoxide just because of a crack or hole.  If a furnace is generating high levels of carbon monoxide, there are other problems that need to be identified and solved. Heat exchanger checks are questionable at best.  Short of dismantling the furnace, there is NO definitive way to guarantee that a heat exchanger does NOT have a crack or hole.  In many heat exchangers, it's almost impossible, even with a remote camera, to inspect all surfaces for cracks. The conditions that lead to carbon monoxide poisoning are usually ignored because mechanics are focused on gas appliances as the potential culprits.  Consequently the home owner is never briefed on how operating certain devices in the home and how the home itself is constructed will have a major impact on carbon monoxide safety. Fear of Carbon Monoxide is the Easiest Way to Make a Replacement Furnace Sale Here's the fastest way to make a furnace sale - perform a heat exchanger check while doing routine maintenance or repairs.  (Most service companies and gas utility providers mandate that heat exchanger checks be performed whenever a furnace is serviced.) If there's a "crack" in the heat exchanger, a sale of some sort is almost guaranteed.  In effect, the $89.00 furnace "clean and check" becomes a potential $1,800 furnace installation.  (The cheaper the "clean and check", the more likely it is that your furnace will have a problem.) With all the publicity about carbon monoxide and heat exchangers, the customer's anxiety level will be high enough that they won't be asking many questions. This makes the sale a fairly easy task. The gas utilities promote heat exchanger checks and are happy to see new, more efficient gas furnaces being installed. Why Holes Are Profitable Needless to say, the smallest, insignificant hole in a heat exchanger becomes a sales opportunity once a service technician spots it.  The bottom line is that you are at the mercy of the technician looking at your equipment.  If you deal with reputable service companies that employ people who are honest, you'll be OK.  Going for the "cheapest" rate when selecting a company could prove to be a lot more expen-sive in the long run.  Ask around, check with your friends and neighbors.  Use Angie's List and check with your local BBB (Better Business Bureau.)  Like it or not, service people in many organizations receive rewards or monetary incentives based on the dollar volume they generate or their equipment sales.  So, while you are thinking that there's no reason for a service mechanic to give you false information, there may be a very good reason to "shade" the truth - his wallet. I'm not saying all mechanics worry more about incentives versus what's right for the customer.  I'm sure most mechanics are conscientious, honest, hard working people.  But, between the inducements to sell equipment and the misinformation about carbon monoxide, there are a lot of furnaces being replaced due to questionable diagnostics. What Happens If You Don't Do Your Homework? Some folks I know (friends of the family) didn't do their homework and found out the hard way just how frustrating and expensive a poor choice of service contractors can become. I happened to see the family's old furnace sitting in their driveway and stopped to have a look at it.  I couldn't easily see the reason the furnace was being replaced.  I'm standing in the cold with nothing but a light jacket on, watching two guys pull the rest of the old plenum and return-air duct work out of the house, wondering why they were changing equipment. I caught one and asked him what was wrong with the furnace they replaced.  He said he understood it was a bad heat exchanger, but wasn't the one who did the inspection.  I then talked to the other mechanic who told me that there was a hole in one of the cells.  I asked him to show me, because I couldn't see any defect, and was curious if I was going to have the same problem.  He tipped the cabinet on its back and pointed to an area were the cells were connected to the front plate of the heat exchanger.  There was a small hole, about 1/4 inch in diameter, that appeared to be a combination of rust and a misinformed crimp.  After I mentioned that the hole wasn't very big, the mechanic emphatically stated that it was "a good thing they caught it when they did because the amount of carbon monoxide that can get through that 1/4" hole would be enough to put the family to sleep or cause serious carbon monoxide poisoning."  When I asked him how the CO was supposed to get out of the heat exchanger, he couldn't answer, and mumbled something about the heat from the burners pushing the CO through the hole.  He knew he was on shaky ground and avoided any more questions. This family really didn't need a furnace. They certainly didn't have the extra money to spend on a furnace. But, they were convinced they were in danger since their equipment was "red tagged" and shut off the night before.  So, without much choice or the ability to get other quotes or prices, they purchased a "bare bones" gas furnace which happened to "be in stock" just so they would have heat That 1/4" hole has probably been there since the furnace was installed 12 years ago.  Frankly, it could probably be there another 12 years without being a problem. Myths Make for Easier Sales This is just one of a number of "myths" being taken advantage of by the HVAC industry.  This kind of myth stops the customer from asking too many questions.  It lets the companies in the HVAC business slip out from under potential liability by simply "condemning" equipment based on some vague notion that it is un-safe to operate.  With everyone's fear of carbon monoxide and cracked heat exchangers, no one really questions the practice.  The myths have been reinforced by repeated exposure in the media, volumes of news articles, consumer protection information and even utility company policies.  It does not matter whether the myths are true or false.  Every contractor and safety organization operates as if they are true, so they must be true.  Right? Another myth that's perpetuated by everyone (including government agencies) is the number of deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning each year.  Some sources explain that "hundreds" are killed each year.  Other media outlets use headlines like "Thousands Die Each Year Due To Carbon Monoxide."  Well guess what ... they are wrong, totally wrong!  Nobody checks their facts!  They simply reprint what other agencies have published. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, which has been tracking incidents for the last decade and a half, fatalities caused by carbon monoxide poisoning averages a whole lot less than what the media outlets report!  (It's actually less than 100 people per year for gas furnaces.)  We've put together the numbers to prove it.   They Don't Care If You Are Left In the Cold I've stood in service meetings and posed this question to mechanics; "if it's the middle of winter with 20 degree temperatures and you checked a furnace and found a small hole or crack in a heat exchanger that was NOT creating carbon monoxide (CO), would you red-tag the furnace?"  Every mechanic, without exception, said yes, the red-tag was warranted and they would shut down the furnace.  When I asked, "What about the family and the water lines in the house?", there was usually silence.  Then some wise guy would always pipe up with "we have to shut it down because of liability."  (In the back of the room you can see the company owners shaking their heads in agreement.) It Has Been Happening for Years, Now Everyone Believes It This concept is so ingrained in the fabric of the business that I have had mechanics not believe their own eyes and test equipment when I tried to explain what was really happening inside the furnace. Liability issues loom large and are responsible, in large part, for some of the policies adopted by HVAC firms and gas utility companies.  In the end, the consumer feels the pain with premature equipment replacement, misdiag-nosed combustion problems and inconvenience. I think it's time someone rang a bell so that homeowners will look at how they operate their homes and their gas appliances.  Homeowners need to know what is safe to operate, and what should be avoided.  Most homeowners have the power to minimize their risk from carbon monoxide poisoning once they understand what to look for.  But, without the knowledge, it's easy to fall prey to quick solutions and misdiagnosed equipment. How Does This Affect You? If you have a gas fired appliance, like a gas stove, or a gas water heater, or a gas clothes dryer, you are affected.  You need to be aware of what dangers your appliances can pose and what you can do about them.  Building codes, gas utility company policies and HVAC companies have been misrepresenting the issues for years, so blindly following their guidelines or advice would be questionable at best.  (The usual problem is that they are not thorough about addressing adverse conditions regarding gas appliance operation.  HVAC companies are especially guilty of ignoring potential dangers by focusing only on the gas equipment being serviced.) Misrepresenting carbon monoxide issues is done by "omission."  There are NO direct efforts or conspiracies by any of the government agencies or safety organizations to misinform the public.  It's a case of only presenting part of the information, and is very similar to using a statement out of context.  If you never find out the full story, you assume the information you've received is accurate.  This is also how many of the myths about carbon monoxide proliferate. I'm here to tell you that what you've been hearing about carbon monoxide issues is NOT accurate.  You've only been hearing part of the story. What Can You Do to Protect Yourself? First, become aware of the potential dangers and acquire a basic understanding of how your gas-fired equipment should operate. You'll gain that understanding from this book.  Second, survey your home and equipment to make sure you haven't been living with a hidden time-bomb. "Carbon Monoxide Myths" contains information that disproves the most prominent myths surrounding carbon monoxide and highlights some of the real dangers of having gas appliances in your home.  There's no earth shaking new science, no undercover, investigative reporting and nothing "mystical" or difficult to understand.  "Carbon Monoxide Myths" clearly explains: The hidden dangers of operating gas appliances Why the things mechanics don't check can kill you Information NOT being explained by government agencies The basics of gas furnace operation How your stove and oven burn gas What to do when confronted with a diagnosis of "bad heat exchanger" How much air is required to operate a gas appliance Basic furnace flue concepts and how to check the flue How a heat exchanger really works Why you can't just rely on a CO detector Why yearly maintenance is critical What NOT to do during power failures What to do when your CO alarm sounds but everything appears OK Carbon monoxide levels and what they mean Energy saving activities that do more harm than good Which CO detectors to avoid. "Carbon Monoxide Myths" won't turn you into a service mechanic, but it will make you an informed consumer and better able to predict and prevent carbon monoxide issues from becoming problems. Here are the more prominent myths about carbon monoxide and gas-fired appliances addressed in the book "Carbon Monoxide Myths": Myth #1      A furnace with a cracked heat exchanger will definitely produce carbon monoxide and poses an immediate danger.   (Wrong!) Myth #2      A gas furnace with a good heat exchanger will NOT produce carbon monoxide and my family is safe.  (Dead Wrong!) Myth #3      An improperly adjusted gas furnace will cause carbon monoxide poisoning. (Wrong!) Myth #4      A carbon monoxide detector will always protect my family from CO issues. (Wrong!) Myth #5      If I sleep with my window slightly open, I’m safe from CO poisoning.  (Wrong!) Myth #6     Carbon monoxide issues only pertain to gas appliances.  (Wrong!) Myth #7      Faulty gas appliances cause CO poisoning that leaves hundreds of people dead each year.  (Wrong!) Myth #8      CO is only caused by incomplete fuel combustion.  (Wrong!) Myth #9      Un-vented gas heaters are NOT safe to operate indoors.  (Wrong!) Myth #10    There are NO long-term effects from carbon monoxide exposure.  (Wrong!) Myth #11    Your doctor can identify and help you through carbon monoxide poisoning. (Not Likely!) Myth #12    The guy with the CO tester must be right.  (Way Wrong!)   Most folks look over the 12 Myths with disbelief.  The items appear contrary to common sense.  But, once you under-stand what really occurs when your furnace kicks on, or why your CO detector alarms, or why your dryer could be the cause of draft problems, you'll see how being hood-winked by the industry was easy to accomplish.   I just read through Carbon Monoxide Myths and have to admit it was an eye opener. I didn't realize how closing a door in the basement could affect what happens with my furnace flue! That saved us from having a real carbon monoxide problem! Marc C, Affton, MO   Your book helped me understand why my CO detector kept going off during the summer. Here I was thinking winter time was when I should be careful. It turns out that you have to be carefull all the time. (My attic fan was causing my water heater flue to spill into the basement which set off the CO alarm in the family room.) JoAnne T, Liberty, MO   Gus, I just to let you know that your book saved me a few thousand dollars in furnace cost. I had my system checked for the winter and would'nt you know it, the guy pulls out this little meter with a hose and tells me my furnace is putting out CO and should be replaced. He gave me a price on a more efficient furnace and said I needed to replace this one ASAP. I asked him the questions in your check list about bad heat exchangers. He could only answer one of them. I got a second opinion and the second company said they couldn't find anything wrong with my furnace. That was a good thing since it is only 12 years old. Tony W, Rochester, NY   It's NOT New Science, Just a Fresh Perspective The information in this book is all field provable.  There are NO leaps in science or hard to comprehend concepts or formulas.  The information in the book are straight forward and based on guidelines in the International Fuel Gas Code and observable facts.  (All code topics are referenced, and where possible, links to government information have been provided.) Included in the book: Carbon monoxide background information Specific answers to the 12 carbon monoxide myths Home Layout to illustrate back draft issues Gas appliance capacity and room size charts Fresh air charts and calculations Home Survey Check List for CO Safety Air Volume Chart and Checklist Carbon Monoxide Detector Descriptions Instead of relying on formulas, I've included capacity and size charts for items that need to be checked.  This makes it easy to run down a check list to survey your home and make sure you have adequate air and enough open space to safely operate your appliances. There are guides to help you find potential air volume and safety issues.  These guides can be used to quickly eliminate an area as a potential trouble spot, or to zero in on the area and identify a problem. Also included are printable checklists and charts to guide you through the process of surveying your home to help make sure you operate the appliances safely.  It's an easy read, with interesting facts and myth busting information. Before you spend $40 to $80 on a carbon monoxide detector that may or may not protect you, spend less than $40 to find out what you should know about carbon monoxide, how to spot trouble, and the best carbon monoxide detector to purchase for your circumstances.  (Not all CO detectors are created equal.) Order Carbon Monoxide Myths today, via digital download.  For $39.95, it's the best investment you can make toward your family's safety and piece of mind.  Best Wishes, Gus Scorchio   PS:  I'll take the all the risk out of your purchase with a 30-day, money-back guarantee.  If you've read through the book and found it wasn't what you were looking for, contact me for a quick and courteous refund.  All I ask is that you accompany your refund request with a note stating what you thought of the book and what you would have wanted for additional information. .   Press Ctrl+D to bookmark this page