In this video, I was inspecting a significantly older home - 90+ years old. The home was equipped with a gas water heater and other gas appliances. Any time there are gas appliances in the home, it is vital that a carbon monoxide detector be installed in the home and that the appliances be regularly inspected for proper operation.
This particular gas water heater has the vent on the top for the gases generated from the burning of natural gas to vent to the outside of the home. During the combustion process, carbon monoxide is often generated if the fuel does not burn cleanly. This water heater has what is called an atmospheric venting system. The system takes advantage of the behavior of air and the movement from hot to cold. In this case, hot air rises is the basic principle.
Combustion of the natural gas produces hot gases. The hot gases rise and exit the vent on the top of the water heater and enter the "hat" or dilution vent. Hot air is less dense and rises, cold around surrounding the vent is drawn into the flow since it is more dense and it wants to get into the hot gases (slight pressure difference). The colder air dilutes the heated gases and continues up the pipe. All gases exit the vent pipe outside the home.
In this case, the vent pipes are improperly installed and there is a misalignment between the water heater exit & the hat and the hat and vent pipe. These misalignments and gaps are allowing exhaust gases to escape from the flue pipe and enter the home. A component of the gases is carbon monoxide. I always use my carbon monoxide detector on gas appliances to determine if excess CO is being generated and escaping into the home. The water heater shown in the video has the misalignment and CO is escaping into the home.
CO is very dangerous because it makes people sleepy when they breathe it. After a while, the poisoning causes the victim to fall asleep. They usually never wake up. If they do and are revived, they can have severe brain injuries due to lack of oxygen.
Moral of the story is get your appliances inspected regularly for safe operation. It is absolutely vital they be inspected after you have replaced the roof covering. The vent pipes are often dislodged by the roofers and no one goes into the attic to check.
#boxerinspections#residentialhomeinspection#waterheatersefety#fuelgas#carbonmonoxide
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License #22794, #781996
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225 Matlage Way, #1383 Sugar Land TX 77487
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