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Home Heating

Home Heating. More than just staying warm… Brandy toft Air Quality Specialist Leech Lake Band of ojibwe. Types of Home Heating Fuel Sources. Propane (LP) Natural Gas Fuel Oil Wood Coal Kerosene Pellets Outdoor wood boilers Electric. Central Air Conditioning (Heat and AC).

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Home Heating

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  1. Home Heating More than just staying warm… Brandy toft Air Quality Specialist Leech Lake Band of ojibwe

  2. Types of Home Heating Fuel Sources Propane (LP) Natural Gas Fuel Oil Wood Coal Kerosene Pellets Outdoor wood boilers Electric

  3. Central Air Conditioning (Heat and AC)

  4. Furnace Air Filters • Blue filters are NOT for health • Mechanical use ONLY • Pleated filters are best • 1” - MERV rating 7-8 • Change MONTHLY! • Label with marker date of change • 4-6” pleated filters • Check at 3 months, replace at 6 months • Label with marker date of change

  5. Money down the drain??? • Electrostatic or washable filters • Not worth the money • Usually not maintained properly

  6. Filter slots and covers

  7. Tight Space Fix

  8. Ducts

  9. Ducting Never run below grade Are there gaps between boots and floor substrate – seal with silicone/ metal tape Seal duct connections/joints with Mastic Interior fiberglass is contaminated– REMOVE Don’t use biocides Avoid panned bays

  10. HRV/ERV Clean quarterly at minimum! Graphic courtesy of Popular Mechanics Photo courtesy of The US Department of Energy

  11. Squirrel Cage – Furnace Blower Vacuum every 6 months Ensure free of debris Ensure filter fits properly – sucked into cage Good BAD

  12. Ducts: To Clean or Not To Clean??? • Usually not recommended – extreme cases • Rodent infestation, substantial mold • Interior debris releases into air flow • Do NOT clean interior insulated ducts • Do recommend cleaning duct boots quarterly with vacuum

  13. Combustion Appliance Maintenance • Maintain each heating season • Furnaces • Gas water heaters • While there check gas stoves, gas fireplaces • Use care when operating combustion appliances indoors • Make sure burner is properly adjusted and has good ventilation • Ensure condensate pump works, unblocked

  14. Positive and Negative Pressures Wind Effect Stack Effect Neutral pressure plane

  15. How Much Air? – Delivered How? What moves air through buildings? WIND DIRECTION Exhaust Fan Wind Buoyancy Stack effect - warm air rising Mechanical Fans

  16. Backdrafting - Spillage • Appliance is not vented properly • Spills or back drafts into living area • Most common test utilizes a mirror as the byproducts of combustion contain water vapor which will cause the mirror to fog • Create worst case conditions – Negative Pressure • Close all exterior doors and windows • Activate all the exhaust fans • Turn on clothes dryers • Turn on ignite fireplaces

  17. Silent Killer - Carbon Monoxide (CO) • You CAN’T • See it • Smell it, or • Taste it…But it can KILL in minutes! • Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned

  18. CO Levels (General Guidelines) 0-9 ppm No health risk 35-50 ppm Problems with long term exposure – 8 hrs chronic symptoms of headaches, nausea, tired MOST DETECTOR ALARMS GO OFF 50-70 ppm Exposure - 2-3 hrs Flu like symptoms, headache, nausea 70-200 ppm Exposure - 1 hr Dizziness, fatigue, vomiting 200-800 ppmMinutes of exposure can cause unconsciousness, brain damage, DEATH

  19. How CO attacks… • Red blood cells prefer CO to oxygen. • If there is enough CO in the air, CO replaces oxygen in the blood. • This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, damaging tissues and potentially causing death.

  20. Common Sources of CO • Blocked flue, chimney, vent pipes • Rusted/cracked furnace heat exchanger • Idling engine in attached garage • Backdrafting, spillage • Maladjusted fuel-fired space heater • Unvented use of BBQ/charcoal indoors • Gas stoves and ranges, water heaters • Outdoor use combustion exhaust near vent/window

  21. Headlines Leading CO Expert Suffers Brain Damage Due to CO Fireplace smoldering and backdrafting Did not have a CO detector in home Hospital did not treat properly for over a day Local Man Dies of CO by Squirrel Neighbor and family friend

  22. Not Just CO – Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Colorless, tasteless, with sharp odor Deep lung irritant Eye, nose, respiratory and throat irritation Shortness of breath, narrow airways in asthmatics More respiratory illness (cold/flus) Lung damage/disease with long exposure

  23. Particulate Matter (PM) • Eye, nose, throat, lung irritation • Bronchitis, allergies, asthma, respiratory and ear infections, cardiovascular conditions… • Sooting from appliances • Ghosting on walls/ceiling • Candles can create problems • Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) • What is adhered to particle?

  24. Sulfur Dioxide • Can work in tangent with PM • Eye, nose, throat, respiratory tract irritation • Respiratory infections, bronchitis • High levels can cause airways to narrow • Asthmatics are especially susceptible

  25. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Organic particles and gases Lung, stomach, bladder, skin cancers Nose, throat, eye irritation

  26. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Change blood pH levels • Increase respiration rate • Decrease ability to perform strenuous exercise • Postulated increases for long term exposure: • Respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders

  27. Water Vapor Byproduct of combustion Must vent or pump to exterior Not a pollutant but can cause moisture issues

  28. Brandy Toft Air Quality Specialist Leech Lake Band Of Ojibwe 218-335-7429 air@lldrm.org

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