Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-13
Defects Found
In 3Oof 36Area
Gas Furnaces
Check BY Utility
Shows Potential
Danger Of Fumes
By CHARLEs a. McALEER

Recent ulSpSCtlOnS py Tic
washington Gas Light Co. have
uncovered defects Ii some 80 out
OF IS gas furnaces IN the Wash
ington area. resulting in many
Of them being turned on.
The gas supply into the furn-
aces was shut on to protect
household occupants against the
potential dangers Of carbon mon
oxide fumes.
OF those involved. more than q
dozen were from q two-block
area Of q subdivision In Wheaton,
Md. The rest were scattered
throughout the District area,
with only one Of them in Vir-I
ginia.
A few Of the inspections were
due to q routine spot check by
the gas company. The rest were
at the request Of individual
homeowners.
A gas company spokesman said
it has been physically impossible,
due to lack Of manp0wer. for the
company to make q blanket sur
vey Of all gas heaters in the area.
The company has 10000 Gus
toners with gas heat.
Inspection offered
w. H. Gill. assistant to the
president of the company. said
the firm stands ready. however.
to make any other inspections
If requested by individuals.
In most cases found so far, the
defects involve the heat ex-
changer. a principal part Of the
hot air furnaces. Sometimes re-
ferred to as the fire box" this
Is the part inside the furnace.
where the gas burns and heats
the air circulated around it.
Furnaces in the Wheaton area
were in homes in the l2300 and
1900 blocks Of Connecticut ave-
nue.. All were manufactured by
the same firm. the gas company
reported.
Developers Of the area said
only about 10 or IL per cent Of
the l 500 homes there have that
particular type Of furnace.
Furnaces made by four other
companies also were used there,
but were not involved.
All those found with troubles
were Installed three years ago.
and guaranteed for a year.
Disclosed by Spot Check
The Wheaton residents were
unaware the situation existed
until the gas company made a
spot check Of two of. the. Con-
rlecticut avenue homes last May.
Within q short time. Six 81 their
neighbors asked for Inspections.
Later, the word spread from one
homeowner to another and at
least i've others called the gas
company.
OF those inspected. at least.
four were turned Of inlme-
diately. Most Of the rest got red
stickers. warning of the trouble
encountered.
The first homeoWners nego-
tiated with the furnace manu-
facturer, who agreed to replace
the furnaces at q minimum Of
the actual cost.
The gas company has in,
structed its inspectors and sery-I
icemen to take a closer check
in the future on this kind Of
furnace.
Other Types Defective
Several other types of gas
furnaces also have been found
with defects, and extra precau-
ton Is being taken with them
also, Mr.. Gill said. When de-
fects are found, the company
sends notices to the manufac-
turers, he added.
Gas company inspectors found
large cracks or bulges in the heat
exchange units. They suggested
that it might have been due to
improper adjustment of furnaces
by the homeowners. Initial ad-
justment Of the furnaces, how
ever. when the gas is first turned
on. is UP to the gas company.
In no cases. Mr.. Gill said, have
inspectors found any actual evil
dence Of the presence Of escap-
ing carbon monoxide fumes.
Most of the shutdowns, he said,
were a precautionary measure
against potential hazards"
1t was not so much of an i'm
mediate hazard, Mr.. Gill added.
but the danger that the flame
might later get ill-adjusted and
then produce the fumes. So far,
he SAID. it has evoked no real
hardships.
Where the furnaces are con-
sidered dangerous or potentially
dangerous. we turn them off," he
said.