Caution! Carbon monoxide in the house!

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, very light gas (lighter than air), odorless. But the "smell of carbon monoxide" is felt due to the impurities of organic elements in the fuel. Carbon monoxide at home appears every time when burning wood. The main cause of the occurrence of carbon monoxide is an insufficient amount of oxygen in the gorenje region.

The occurrence of carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide at home occurs when gorenje carbon due to lack of oxygen.

The combustion of fuel in furnaces occurs in several stages:

1. First, the carbon is burned, releasing carbon dioxide CO2;
2. Then carbon dioxide comes into contact with the red-hot remnants of coke or coal, creating carbon monoxide;
3. Then, carbon monoxide burns (blue flame) with the appearance of carbon dioxide, which exits through the chimney.

Without traction in the furnace (the chimney is clogged, there is no supply air for gorenje, the flap is closed prematurely), the coals continue to smolder without a weak oxygen supply, so carbon monoxide does not burn and can disperse through the heated room, having a toxic effect on the body and poisoning (carbon monoxide).

Carbon monoxide in furnace heating

A fireplace or stove with a closed latch and the remnants of unburned fuel is a source of carbon monoxide and an invisible poisoner. Assuming that the fuel is completely burned, the owners of the stoves close the chimney flap to preserve heat. Embers with a lack of air create carbon monoxide that penetrates into the room through leaky areas of the furnace system.

Also, in the chimney, with weak traction and without air supply, there is a chemical underburning of fuel, and as a result, the occurrence and accumulation of carbon monoxide at home. The air supply is sufficient both to maintain gorenje and for optimal traction in the fireplace or stove system. Sealed rooms and the lack of supply air form problems with natural ventilation and cause poor draft in the furnace.

For a good gorenje of fuel in the fuel tank of the furnace, it is necessary to supply the necessary volume of supply air, especially when heating with coal. If there are a few unburned embers left in the furnace, it is better to extinguish them or wait for them to completely burn out. When the coals become dark and there is no flame above them, you can close the valve after 10 minutes. You need to finish the work of the fireplace or the furnace furnace two hours before bedtime. So carbon monoxide in the house will not be a problem!

 

 

Press Service of the Emergency Department of the Almaty region