U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, D.C. 20207

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SS. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460

‘The Christmas Seal People ®

AMERICAN + LUNG ASSOCIATION®

Contact your local American Lung Association
for more information.

009109



ar polo, ‘Us tis {
eater only in a well i :
INSTRUCTIONS ventilated area. See : {

operating instructions for

CAUTION: Improper fuel may cause :
pollution ‘and sooting of the burner. oi
Use only water clear No. 1+K kerosene. ‘ !

DANGER: Risk of explosion. Never use
gasoline in this heater. . t

e Always use the correct fuel for the t
appliance. | poe i
¢ Only use water-clear ASTM 1-K kerosene fo: i

for kerosene heaters. The use of kerosene roi
other than 1-K could lead to a release of more foo
pollutants in your home. Never use gasoline in ' so
a kerosene heater because it can cause a fi to
or an explosion. Using even small amounts of
gasoline could cause a fire.

Use seasoned hardwoods (elm, maple, oak)
instead of softwoods (cedar, fir, pine) in
woodburning stoves and fireplaces. Hard-
woods are better because they burn hotter
form less creosote, an oily, black tar that an)
to chimneys and stove pipes. Do not use green i | fe
or wet woods as the primary wood because
they make more creosote and smoke. Never an
burn painted scrap wood or wood treated with i
preservatives, because they could release
highly toxic pollutants, suc! ic or lead.
Plastics, charcoal, and colored paper such a:
comics, also produce pollutants. Never burn
anything that the stove or fireplace manufac '
turer does not recommend.

« Never use a range, oven, or dryer to heat i

y can produce fatal amounts of car-
ide. They can produce high levels of
nitrogen dioxide, too.
¢ Never use an unvented combustion heater
overnight or in a room where you are sleep-
ing. Carbon monoxide from combustion heaters
can reach dangerous levels.

14 |



COMBUSTION APPLIANCES
AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS

Appliances Fuel

Central Furnaces Natural or

Room Heaters Liquified

Gas Fireplaces Petroleum
Gas

Central Furnaces Oil

Central Heaters Wood
Room Heaters

Central Furnaces Coal
Stoves

Room Heaters
Central Heaters

Kerosene

Water Heaters Natural or
Liquefied
Petroleum

Gas

Natural or
Liquefied
Petroleum
Gas

Wood

Typical Potential Problems

Cracked heat exchanger
Not enough air to burn
fuel properly
Defective/blocked flue
Maladjusted burner

Cracked heat exchanger
Not enough air to burn
fuel properly
Defective/blocked flue
Maladjusted burner

Cracked heat exchanger
Not enough air to burn
fuel properly
Defective/blocked flue
Green or treated wood

Cracked heat exchanger
Not enough air to burn
fuel properly
Defective/blocked flue
Defective grate

Improper adjustment

Wrong fuel (not K-1)

Wrong wick or wick height

Not enough air to burn
fuel properly

Not enough air to burn
fuel properly

Defective/blocked flue

Maladjusted burner

Not enough air to burn
fuel properly

Maladjusted burner

Misuse as a room heater

Not enough air to burn
fuel properly

Defective/blocked flue

Green or treated wood

Cracked heat exchanger
or firebox



For more information:
For a copy of CPSC’s booklets What You Should
Know About Space Heaters and What You Should
Know About Kerosene Heaters, and for information
on asbestos, biological pollutants, lead, methylene
chloride, humidifiers, and formaldehyde in your
home, write to:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, D.C. 20207

For a copy of The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor
Air Quality, and additional information on indoor
air quality write:

Public Information Center (PM-211B)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

401 M Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20460

Information on indoor air quality is also available
from local American Lung Association (ALA)
offices. They are listed in the white pages of the
phone book. .

For information on woodstoves write:

Wood Heater Program (EN-341W)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW

Washington, DC 20460

For information on kerosene heaters, write or call:

National Kerosene Heater Association
3100 West End Avenue, Suite 250
Nashville, TN 37203

(Telephone: 615-269-9015)



Your doctor may take a blood sample to measure
the level of carbon monoxide in your blood if he
or she suspects carbon monoxide poisoning. This
sample will help determine whether carbon mono:
ide is affecting your health.

Contact qualified appliance service people to
have your appliances inspected and adjusted if
needed. You should be able to find a qualified per-
son by asking your appliance distributor or your
fuel supplier. In some areas, the local fuel company
may be able to inspect and adjust the appliance.

How can I reduce my
exposure to combustion
pollutants?

Proper selection, installation, inspection and
maintenance of your appliances are extremely
important in reducing your exposure to these
pollutants. Providing good ventilation in your home
and correctly using your applian n also reduce
your exposure to these pollutants.

_ Additionally, there are several different residen-
tial carbon monoxide detectors for The CPSC
is encouraging the development of detectors that
will provide maximum protection. These detectors
would warn consumers of harmful carbon monox-
ide levels in the home. They may soon be v
available to reduce deaths from carbon monoxide
poisoning.

APPLIANCE SELECTION

© Choose vented appliances whenever possible.

* Only buy combustion appliances that have
been tested and certified to meet current
safety standards. Examples of certifying

tions are Underwriters Laborato: (UL)
and the American G: Association (AGA)
Laboratories. Look for a label that clearly shows
the certification.

All currently manufactured vented gas heaters
are required by industry safety standards to
have a safety shut-off device. This device helps
protect you from carbon monoxide poisoning by
shutting off an improperly vented heater.

10



of time of exposure to them. They also depend:
upon several factors related to the exposed person.
These include the age and any. existing health pro-
blems. There are still some questions about the
level of pollutants or the period of exposure needed
to produce specific health effects. Further studies
to better define the release of pollutants from co
bustion applian and their health effects
are needed

The sectio
associated with some common combt
pollutants. These pollutants include carbon monox-
ide, nitrogen dioxide, particles, and sulfur dioxide.
Even if you are healthy, high levels of carbon
monoxide can kill you within a short time. The
health effects of the other pollutants are generally
more subtle and are more likely to affect suscep-
tible people. It is always a good idea to reduce
exposure to combustion pollutants by using and
maintaining combustion applianc roperly.

Carbon Monoxide:

Each year, according to CPSC, there are more than
200 carbon monoxide deaths related to the use of
all types of combustion appliances in the home. Ex-
posure to carbon monoxide reduces the blood’s
ability to carry oxygen. Often a person or an en-
tire family may not recognize that carbon monox-
ide is poisoning them. The chemical is odorless and
some of the symptoms are similar to common
illnesses. This is particularly dangerous because
carbon monoxide’s deadly effects will not
be recognized until it is too late to take action
against them.

Sarbon monoxide exposures especially affect un-
born babies, infants, and people with anemia or a
history of heart disease. Breathing low levels of the
chemical can cause fatigue and increase chest pain
in people with chronic heart disease. Breathing
higher levels of carbon monoxide causes symptoms
such as headaches, dizziness, and i
healthy people. Carbon monoxide
sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, c
disorientation. At very high levels it causes loss of
consciousness and death.



Can I use charcoal grills or
charcoal hibachis indoors?

No. Never use these appliances

trailers, truck-caps, or tents. Carbon monoxide
from burning and smoldering charcoal can kill you
if you use it indoors for cooking or heating. There

A
ie |
IRL
&

NEVER burn charcoal inside homes, trailers,
tents, or other enclosures. The carbon monox-
ide can kill you.

What are the health
effects of combustion
pollutants?

The health effects of combustion pollutants range
from headaches and breathing difficulties to d

The health effects may show up immediately after
exposure or occur after being exposed to the
pollutants for a long time. The effects depend upon
the type and amount of pollutants and the length



For information on gas heating appliances, write:

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, Inc.
1901 North Moore Street, Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209

American Gas Association
1515 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209

For a copy of Straight Answers to Burning Ques-
tions or other woodburning information, write:

Wood Heating Alliance
1101 Connecticut Ave N.W., Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036

Note: The CPSC and the EPA have not reviewed or approved |
all the information and documents on indoor air quality that
may be provided by other groups or organizations.

‘This document may be reproduced without change, in whole
or in part, without permission, except for use as advertising
material or product endorsement. Any such reproduction
should credit the American Lung Association, the U.S. Con-
sumer Product Safety Commission, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. The use of all or any part of this document
in a deceptive manner or for purposes of endorsing a particular
product may be subject to appropriate legal action.

19



What do I do if I suspect
that combustion pollutants
are affecting my health?

If you suspect you are being subjected to
carbon monoxide poisoning get fresh ai
immediately. Open windows and doors for more
ventilation, turn off any combustion appliances,
and leave the hou You could lose consciousne:
and die from carbon monoxide poisoning if you do
ntact a doctc
IMMEDIATELY for a proper diagnosis. Rememb:
to tell your doctor that you suspect carbon monox-
de poisoning is your problems. Prompt
medical attention is important.
Remember that some
pollutants —- headache:
coughing, watery

indoor air pollutants, ¢
per diagn

To help your doctor make the correct diagnosi
try to have answers to the following questions:

* Do your symptoms occur only in the home? Do
disappear or decre; when you I
and reappear when you return?

yone else in your household complainin
imilar symptoms,
y complaining of naus
coughing, or nose and throat

Do you always have symptoms?
Are your symptoms getting worse?
you often catch colds or get the flu?
Are you using any combustion appliances in

inspected your appliances lately? Are
u certain they are working prope)



What You Should Know About

Combustion
Appliances
and Indoor
Air
Pollution

Prepared by

AMERICAN
LUNG
|, ASSOCIATION®
® The Chnstmas Seal People®



e All new woodstoves are EPA-certified to limit
the amounts of pollutants released into the
outdoor air. For more information on selecting,
installing, operating, and maintaining wood-
burning stoves, write to the EPA Wood Heat:
Program. Their address is in the bi: of this
booklet. Before buying a woodstove check your
local laws about the installation and use of
woodstoves.

Proper Installati:

¢ You should have your appliances profes-
sionally installed. Pro! mals should follow
the installation directions and applicable building
codes. Improperly installed appliances can release
dangerous pollutants in your home and ma
create a fire hazard. Be sure that the installer
checks for backdrafting on all vented appliances.
A qualified installer knows how to do t

Ventilation

© To reduce indoor air pollution, a good supply
of fresh outdoor air is needed. The movement
of air into and out of your home is very impor-
tant. Normally, air comes through cracks around
doors and windows. This air helps reduce the
level of pollutants indoors. This supply of fr
air is also important to help carry pollutants up
the chimney, stovepipe, or flue to the outside.

12

i


¢ Check your local and state building
fire ordinances to see if you can use an
unvented space heater, if you consider pur.
chasing one. They are not allowed to be used
in some communities, dwellings, or certain rooms
in the hou

If you must replace an unvented gas space
heater with another, make it a new one.
Heaters made after 1982 have a pilot light safet
system called an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS)

off the heater when there is
not enough f: ater begins
producing large amounts of carbon monoxide
Look for the label that tells you that the
appliar ¥ tem. Older heaters
will not have this protection system.

Consider buying gas appliances that have
electronic ignitions rather than pilot lights,
appliances are usually more ener

that are the correct size for
the area you want to heat. Using the wron;
heater may produce more pollutants i
home and is not an efficient use of energy

Talk to your dealer to determine the type and
size of appliance you will need. You may wish
to the appliance manufacturer or asso-



Nitrogen Dioxide:

Breathing high levels of nitrogen dioxide causes ir-
ritation of the respiratory tract and causes shortness
of breath. Compared to healthy people, children,
and individuals with respiratory illnesses such as
asthma, may be more susceptible to the effects of
nitrogen dioxide.

Some studies have shown that children may have
more colds and flu when exposed to low levels of
nitrogen dioxide. When people with asthma inhale
low levels of nitrogen dioxide while exercising,
their lung airways can narrow and react more to
inhaled mate!

Particles:

Particles suspended in the air can cause

throat, and lung irritation. They

respiratory symptoms, especially in people with
chronic lung disease or he: blems. Certain
chemi attached to parti may cause lung
cancer, if they are inhaled. The risk of lung cancer
increases with the amount and length of exposure,

The health effects from inhaling particles depend
upon many facto! i
cle and its chemical make-up.

Sulfur Dioxide:

Sulfur dioxide at low levels of exposure

eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritati n.
exposure levels, it causes

narrow. This causes wh

breathing problem: People with asthma are pa
ticularly susceptible to the effects of sulfur diox-
ide. They may have sympton it levels that are
much lower than the rest of the population.

Other Pollutants:

Combustion may release other pollutants. They in-
clude unburned hydrocarbons and aldehydes. Lit-
tle is known about the levels of these pollutants
in indoor air and the resulting health effec



Combustion always produces water vapor. Water
vapor is not usually considered a pollutant, but it.
can act as one. It can result in high humidity and
wet surfaces. These conditions encourage the
growth of biological pollutants such as house dust
mites, molds, and bacteria.

Where do combustion
pollutants come from?

Combustion pollutants found indoors include: out-
door air, tobacco smoke, exhaust from car and
lawn mower internal combustion engines, and
some hobby activities such as welding, wood-
burning, and soldering. Combustion pollutants can
also come from vented or unvented combustion
appliances. These appliances include space heaters,
gas ranges and ovens, furna: ‘as water heaters,
gas clothes dryers, wood or coal-burning stoves,
and fireplaces. As a group these are called ‘“‘com-
bustion appliances.

What is a vented

appliance? What is an
unvented appliance?

Vented appliances are appliances designed to be
used with a duct, chimney, pipe, or other device
that carry the combustion pollutants outside the
home. These appliances can release large amounts
of pollutants directly into your home, if a vent is
not properly installed, or is blocked or lea!

Unvented appliances do not vent to the outs
so they release combustion pollutants directly into
the home.

Look at the box below for typical appliance pro-
plems that cause the release of pollutants in your
home. Many of these problems are hard for a
homeowner to identify. A professional is needed.



« Never ignore a safety device when it shuts
off an appliance. It means that something is
wrong. d your appliance instructions to find
out what you should do or have a professional
check out the problem.

Never ignore the smell of fuel. This usually
indicates that the appliance not operating
properly or is leaking fuel. Leaking fuel will not.
always be detectible by smell. If you suspect that.
you have a fuel fixed soon as.
pos: a i J should shut off the
appliance, extinguish any other flames or pilot
lights, shut off other app! in the area, open
windows and doors, call for help, and leave
the area.

Inspection and Maintenance
¢ Have your combustion appliance regularly
inspected and maintained to reduce your
exposure to pollutants. Appliances that are not
orking properly can release harmful and even
fatal amounts of pollutants, especially carbon
monoxide.

Have chimneys and vents inspected when
installing or changing vented heatin;
pliane: Some modifications may be requil
For example, if a change was made in your
heating system from oil to natural gas, the flue
gas produced by the gas system could be hot
enough to melt accumulated oil combustion
debris in the chimney or vent. This debris could
block the vent forcing pollutants into the house.
It is important to clean your chimney and ats
especially when changing heating systems.

What are the inspection
and maintenance
procedures?

The best advice is to follow the recommendatio:
of the manufacturer. The same combustion ap-
pliance may have different inspection and
maintenance requirements, depending upon where
you live.



INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES

Applicance Inspection/ Maintenance/

Frequency Frequency
Gas Hot Air Air Filters - Clean/change filter -
Heating System Monthly As needed

Look at flues Qualified person check/
for rust and clean chimney, clean
soot - Yearly combustion chamber,
adjust burners, check
heat exchanger
and operation
Yearly (at start of
heating season)

Gas/Oil Look at flues Qualified person check/
Water/Steam —_ for rust and clean chimney, clean
Heating Systems soot - Yearly combustion chamber,
and Water adjust burners,
Heaters check operation
Yearly (at start of
heating season)

Kerosene Look to see Check and replace wick
Space Heaters that mantle is Yearly (at start of
properly seated - heating season)
Daily when
in use

Look to see Clean combustion
that fuel tank — chamber
is free of water Yearly (at start of
or other heating season)
contaminants - .
Daily or before Drain fuel tank

. Yearly (at end of
refueling .

heating season)

Wood/Coal Look at flues Qualified person
Stoves for rust and check/clean chimney,
soot ~ Yearly check seams
and gaskets,
check operation
Yearly (at start of
heating season)



Should I be concerned
about indoor air pollution?

Yes. Studies have shown that the air in our homes
can be even more polluted than the outdoor air in
people spend a lot of time i
indoors can affect their
2 hildren and the elder!
a group show tible to pollutants.
People h chronic respiratory or cardiovascular
item dis
to pollutants.

determine whether pollutants in

your home will affect your health. They include the
presence, use, and condition of pollutant sources,
the level of pollutants both indoors and out, the
amount of ventilation in ome, and your

ve more than one source of indoor
ample, pollutants com

oling, and cleaning. Living in.
areas with high outdoor levels of pollutants usually
its in high indoor levels. Combustion pollutant
are one category of indoor air pollutants.

What are combustion
pollutants?

Combustion pollutants are ga

come from | g

pollutants d in this booklet come fi

burning fuels in appliance The common fuels

burned in these appliances are natural or LP

fuel oil, kerosene, wood, or coal. The tyr

amounts of pollutants produced depend upon the

ce, how well the appliance is

d, maintained, and vented, ind of

fuel it uses. Some of the common pollutants pro-

duced from burning these fuels are

ide, nitrogen dioxide, part

Particles can have hazardous chemicals attached

to them. Other pollutants that can be produced by

some appliances are unburned hydrocarbons

and aldehydes.



What You Should
Know About
Combustion

Appliances and
Indoor Air Pollution

Hazards may be associated with almost all types of
appliances. The purpose of this booklet is to answer
some common questions you may have about the
potential for one specific type of hazard — indoor
air pollution — asso d with one class of
appliances - combustion appliances.

Combustion appliances are those which burn
fuels for warmth, cooking, or decorative purposes.
Typical fuels are g:
petroleum (LP); ker
Examples of the appliances
ranges, ovens, stoves, furnaces, fireplac
heaters, and clothes dryers. These appliance
usually safe. However, under certain conditions,
these appliances can produce combustion
pollutants that can damage your health, or even
kill you.

POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS range from
headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, and watery
eyes to breathing difficulties or even death.
Similar effects may also occur because of
common medical problems or other indoor air
pollutants.

This booklet was written: (1) to encourage the
proper use, maintenance, and installation of com-
bustion appliances; (2) to dis the pollutants pro-
duced by these appliances; (3) to describe how
these pollutants can affect your health; and (4) to
tell you how you can reduce your exposure
to them.

This booklet has been prepared by th:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety C ii
the U.S. Environmental Prote

and the American Lung Ass

2



¢ Keep doors open to the rest of the house from
the room where you are using an unvented

open a window. This enough air
for proper combustion and reduces the level of

ure that enough
air is coming into the house when you use an
exhaust fan. If needed, slightly open a door
window, especially if other appliances are in use.
For proper operation of most combustion
appliances and their venting system, the air
pressure in the house should be greater than that.
side. If not, the vented appliances could
combustion pollutants into the hous
rather than outdoors. If you suspect that you.
have this prob y ay need the help of a
qualified person to solve it.

Make sure that your vented appliance has the
2d and that nothing is blockin:

8 there are no holes or cracks in the

vent. Do not vent g: lothes dryers or water

heaters into the house for heating. Thi
unsafe.

Open the stove’s damper when adding wood.

This allows more air into the stove. More air help:

the wood burn properly and prevent

from being drawn into the house ins
chimney. Visible smoke

a woodburning stove is a sign that the si
rking properly. Soot on furniture in the

Correct Use
¢ Read and follow the instructions for all
you understand how they
enient
o refer to when needed. Also, re

follow the warning labels because they tell you
important safety information that you need to
know. Reading and following the instructions and

warning labels could



In general, check the flame in the furnace com-
bustion chamber at the beginning of the heating
season. Natural gas furnaces should have a blue
flame with perhaps only a slight yellow tip. Call
your appliance service representative to adjust the
burner if there is a lot of yellow in the flame, or
call your local utility company for this service. LP
units should have a flame with a bright blue center
that may have a light yellow tip. Pilot lights on gas
water heaters and gas cooking appliances should
also have a blue flame. Have a trained service
representative adjust the pilot light if it is yellow
or orange.

Before each heating season, have flues and
chimneys inspected and aned befor
heating season for leakage and for blockage by
creosote or debris. Creosote buildup or leakage
could cause black stains on the outside of the
chimney or flue. These stains can mean that
pollutants are leaking into the hou:

The chart on the next page shows how and when
to take care of your appliance.

This booklet discussed the types of pollutants that
may be produced by combustion appliances.

described how they might affect your health, and
suggested ways you could reduce your exposure to
them. It also explained that proper appliance

tion, installation, operation, inspection, and
maintenance are very important in reducing ex-
posure to combustion pollutants.

: