Re: “Fire department reports increase in carbon monoxide calls,” Feb. 1.
Dear editor,
I do heating and air-conditioning and have done so for 30 plus years.
If you install a new furnace with an intake and an exhaust (that is the plastic venting) it doesn’t matter if the intake or the exhaust is blocked, the furnace will not run unless there is a crack in the heat exchanger.
Now, if the homes with combustion air (that is the tube that hangs down by the furnace) are blocked, then there could be problem (lack of air for the burners), although carbon monoxide will only happen if the air from the furnace is burned twice.
Note: you get carbon dioxide when the air going into the furnace is burned once and carbon monoxide if the air is burned a second time. If this does happen and the flue gasses go out the chimney, then there is still no problem. If these gases spill into the house, then you have problems.
Darrell Cusack, Chestermere
