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    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
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    #1

    Sep 12, 2008, 04:53 PM
    CO smell?
    Hello,

    Ok so I've been doing some work in my basement lately adding a room and a bathroom, while I have been working I've noticed that while I have my head up in the joists, I detect an odor, its similar to that of burning gas, my furnace has a pilot light and its lit, however I'm wondering if its because the flu is closed, and weather or not this is OK?? Because I thought burning of gas created Carbon Monoxide which isn't good,, anyway, I was feeling the flu and its warm for about a ft then there is a orange canister, I'm thinking it's a motor for draft protection and it runs off the furnace, and after this the pipes are cold,


    Also; not sure of the age of the furnace but I know its been a long time since its been updated
    Here is a picture

    OK so here is the question?? Is this thing working properly if I can smell Carbon Monoxide in the basement, but only up on the celing,
    Or is something leaking?


    Let me know

    Thank you
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    walligattor's Avatar
    walligattor Posts: 8, Reputation: 2
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    #2

    Sep 12, 2008, 05:34 PM
    If you question is "does the CO smell?" then the answer is no. That's why so many people are intoxicated.
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
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    #3

    Sep 12, 2008, 05:49 PM
    Haha thanks but no that's not the question, I've since corrected my orignal question,

    Thanks
    wmproop's Avatar
    wmproop Posts: 3,749, Reputation: 91
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    #4

    Sep 12, 2008, 07:31 PM
    ((ok so here is the question?? Is this thing working properly if I can smell Carbon Monoxide in the basement, but only up on the celing,
    Or is something leaking?

    As the last guy stated,, you can`t smell carbon monoxide, this is why it kills people ,they don`t get a warning
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
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    #5

    Sep 12, 2008, 07:36 PM
    DUh... Smack on my own head

    Ok... so how about this, is this OK? The pilot shouldn't be vented? The byproduct of burning gas is fine?
    wmproop's Avatar
    wmproop Posts: 3,749, Reputation: 91
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    #6

    Sep 12, 2008, 08:14 PM
    If you are smelling the fumes from burning gas in the basement,, something needs to be checked out
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
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    #7

    Sep 12, 2008, 08:16 PM
    Anything I can check?, I only smell the fumes up in the joists, I was thinking it has something to do with that orange canister??
    hvac1000's Avatar
    hvac1000 Posts: 14,540, Reputation: 435
    Heating & Air Conditioning Expert
    		  
    #8

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:43 AM
    The orange thing is a flue damper designed to save energy.

    I recommend you have a qualified professional look over your system and also use a special meter to test for CO.
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
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    #9

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:46 AM
    OK thanks
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #10

    Sep 13, 2008, 01:15 PM
    May be time to update your system, better safe than sorry. Its true co doesn't smell, but if you are smelling something, there is a pretty good chance it contains co.
    T-Top's Avatar
    T-Top Posts: 1,871, Reputation: 100
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    #11

    Sep 13, 2008, 09:44 PM
    If I had a gas burning appliance in my home I would spend $40 dollars for the carbon monoxide detector to let me know if I had a problem. Money well worth spent.
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
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    #12

    Sep 18, 2008, 06:06 PM
    Just to let everyone know, Had the Heating guy over today,

    Apparently these are now illegal in our parts, and he said that this was the problem, it was malfunctioning, which is why they aret used, causing more health risks than its worth to improve efficiency.
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