Carbon Monoxide

What You Should Know
What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless toxic gas. When inhaled, CO
interferes with the blood’s ability to absorb and transport oxygen. Exposure to high amounts of CO can cause
unconsciousness, brain damage and death. In this sheet, learn how to protect yourself and your family from the
dangers of carbon monoxide.

How is it Produced?
Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels burn incompletely. For fuel-burning appliances to work safely, they need: 1. enough air for complete combustion
2. proper venting of combustion products .

Under normal operation, natural gas burns cleanly producing heat, carbon dioxide and water vapour. But if enough air is not available, the burner isn’t working properly, or the vent or chimney are not removing the products of combustion adequately, carbon monoxide can end up in your home.

Your home’s air supply is crucial
Caulking and weatherproofing your home saves energy and money; keeping cold, fresh air out and heated air in. But if you’ve made your home too airtight, it can affect indoor air quality and appliance and vent operation. Open wood fireplaces, kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans, and power attic vents can also affect indoor air. If no other source of fresh air is available, outside air can be drawn down the heating appliance vent, preventing the release of combustion products, causing them to spill into your home.

If you’re planning major energy improvements, adding high-volume exhaust fans, or planning to enclose your furnace or water heater, contact a registered gas contractor to find out if you’ll need extra air supply.

If you’re shopping for a carbon monoxide alarm, look for one labelled to the latest Canadian Standard CSA 6.19-01. Common causes of CO in homes include building fires, faulty fuel-burning appliances and vehicle exhaust from a garage or enclosed area.

More common sense ways to guard against CO:
• Have a registered gas contractor install, inspect and service your natural gas appliances and check vents regularly to make sure that they are not disconnected, blocked or corroded.

• Ask if contractor personnel are licensed gas fitters and know how to check heat exchangers — companies solely in the furnace installation or cleaning business may not be qualified to do this. • Read and keep your manufacturer’s operating and maintenance manuals.

• Check that outside air ducts, exhaust vents and bug screens are clear and allow a free flow of air.

• Always keep furnace fan compartment doors and/or the filter access panel in place.

• Seal all joints in any cold air return ducts in the furnace room.

• If you have an open wood-burning fireplace, open the damper and partially open a window or door at or below the level of the fireplace when the fireplace is in use. Close the damper after each fire, but only after the ashes are cool.

• Use a properly sized and vented exhaust fan when using gas cooking appliances.

• Buying a house? Have a registered gas contractor inspect the gas appliances. Never use a barbecue inside the house or garage.

Should I buy a carbon monoxide alarm?
Carbon monoxide alarms offer extra protection and peace of mind, but they are NOT a substitute for regular maintenance and inspection. A CO alarm is not a substitute for a smoke alarm.

What to look for in an alarm

• Make sure that it is certified to Canadian standards. Products with “CSA 6.19-01” on the packaging have been tested to the Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices Standard published in March 2001. The package will also show a replacement date. The new standard includes Time-of-Manufacture and In-Service reliability testing.

• A battery operated unit or a 110 volt plug-in model with a battery back-up to protect you when the power fails.

• Peak-level display and hours-since-peak features. These show the highest level of carbon monoxide reached, as well as how long ago the reading occurred.

Signs of CO in your home
Common signs to watch for are:

you or other members of your household suffering from flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, impaired judgement, loss of manual dexterity, and even loss of consciousness

an unidentified chronic odour inside the building

abnormal condensation on windows and walls

Young children, the elderly, people with heart disease and people under the influence of medication, drugs or alcohol may be particularly susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning .

If you think there's carbon monoxide in your home:

• open doors and windows to air out the room or building

• get everyone to fresh air immediately

• seek medical advice immediately for physical symptoms

• turn off the suspect appliance

• have a registered gas contractor inspect your appliances.

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Gas Fireplaces

With a gas fireplace, you don’t need to worry about going to bed with burning embers still in the firebox — when the gas supply is shut off, the fire goes out immediately. And compared to wood fireplaces, gas fireplaces vented to the outdoors produce much less carbon monoxide and particulate emissions. So go ahead, get comfortable by your natural gas fireplace. It’s what cosy memories are made of.

As with any appliance, it pays to play it safe around your new gas fireplace:

• do not store combustible materials, gasoline or other flammable liquids near your fireplace

• have your fireplace installed out of the way of foot traffic and away from furniture and draperies

• gas fireplaces with glass doors should not be operated if the glass is cracked or broken

• follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the owner’s manual, or refer to the care guide for maintenance and use of your gas fireplace

• installation and repair of a gas fireplace should be done by a licensed gas contractor

• have your gas fireplace checked periodically, along with your furnace or other major gas appliances, by a licensed gas contractor

Keeping kids safe around your gas fireplace

Keep watch
Children should be carefully supervised when they are in a room with a fireplace. The glass insert surrounding your natural gas fireplace can quickly heat up to temperatures higher than 200 C. Once turned off, it takes 45 minutes for the glass to cool back down. Don’t touch.

Always make sure your children know they should never touch a fireplace’s glass panels. If you are concerned your toddler may be tempted to touch the fireplace’s glass, consider your options in creating a physical barrier between your child and the gas fireplace. Many gas fireplace manufacturers now offer safety screens as optional accessories to certain models.

Safety gate
An adjustable gate system that fits most fireplace areas can be installed and allows adult access to the fireplace, but keeps kids outside in a safe zone. Alternatively, that same kind of safe gate system can be used to cordon off the entire room to prevent your child from wandering into the room alone. Hearth safety Parents concerned about toddlers hurting themselves on the surfaces of a fireplace hearth may want to consider installing a fire-resistant hearth guard (cushioned strip).

Keep non fire-resistant materials such as pillows, sheets or rugs well away.

Maintaining your natural gas fireplace
By purchasing a natural gas fireplace, you’ve made an investment that will bring you comfort and satisfaction for years to come. To help ensure that your fireplace always operates safely and at peak performance, here are some simple tips for its care and maintenance:

• familiarize yourself with the owner’s manual and manufacturer’s operating instructions, and keep the instructions handy

• contact your fireplace dealer if you do not understand the instructions for your fireplace

• if your fireplace is being installed in a home during construction or renovations, do not operate it until the area is thoroughly cleaned (drywall dust and other contaminants may harm the fan, motors and burners)

• have a licensed gas contractor clean and inspect your fireplace on a regular basis

• check your vent periodically, as recommended in the owner’s manual

• if viewing glass or seal need replacing, use only materials supplied by the fireplace manufacturer (items must be suitable for the application and temperature) and do not use your fireplace until this repair is complete

• check the manufacturer’s instructions before adding or modifying a mantel or surround — a minimum clearance to combustible materials is required

• keep the external vent clear of debris

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Natural Gas

Natural gas is combustible ~ learn how to use it safely

Natural gas is one of the safest fuels. Composed mostly of methane, it is naturally colourless and odourless. For safety’s sake, an odour is added - a smell like rotten eggs or sulphur - so you can easily detect it. When natural gas leaks it will mix with air and can cause a fire if there is a source of ignition (or explosion if it accumulates in a confined space).

Natural gas is not poisonous but can cause unconsciousness in high concentrations when it displaces air. Smell gas… act fast!

SMELL GAS - ACT FAST
Scratch and Sniff to find out what natural gas smells like.

• Open doors and windows

• Do not smoke, light matches, operate electrical switches or create any other source of ignition

• Leave the premises

• Turn off your gas meter, if you know how

• Go to a nearby phone and call your natural gas utility, 911, or Fire Department emergency number. If there is a strong smell of gas, if you hear the flow of escaping gas, or if gas is leaking from a broken or disconnected gas pipe, do the following:

• Leave the premises

• Go to a nearby phone and call your natural gas utility, In an emergency, can I shut off my gas supply at the meter? Yes. If it is necessary to turn off your gas supply before the gas utility or Fire Department arrives, you should know the proper procedure. Give the valve a quarter turn in either direction so that the lever is crosswise to the pipe. Can I turn the meter on again? Leave it to an expert! Once the gas is turned off, it should be turned back on by a qualified individual who can check out the appliances and venting. WINTER PREPARATIONS • Service your appliances in the summer to minimize problems during the heating season.

• Check that chimneys or vents are not blocked, so that products of combustion can flow to the outside .

• Keep combustion air inlets clear. Air is required for safe combustion and proper vent operation.

• Keep the meter clear of snow and ice.

• Do not shovel snow up against the meter.

• Take care in using a snow blower or plow near your meter.

• Keep eavetroughs clear and in good repair so that water does not drip on the meter and cause ice build-up on your gas meter or piping. Keep meter clear! Accumulated snow and ice places stress on your meter piping. Damage to the piping can cause a gas leak. Blocked regulator vents can dangerously over-pressure the system, affect appliance operation, and interrupt service.

REMEMBER MAINTENANCE

Refer to the manuals provided with your appliances. They contain operating and maintenance instructions. Have a Gas Contractor check your appliances, vents and combustion air openings regularly to ensure safe and reliable operation. Some appliance manufacturers recommend annual inspection and maintenance. During the visit, ask if your water heater has been secured as a precaution for earthquakes. Vents or chimneys must be kept clear to allow the products of combustion to go outside. Products of combustion can contain carbon monoxide. See the brochure in this series called Carbon Monoxide Safety. If you or a member of your family has concerns about your ability to smell natural gas, consider the purchase of a methane gas alarm. But remember, while an alarm may provide an extra measure of warning, they should never be relied upon as a substitute for regular inspection and maintenance of natural gas appliances.

GAS METER TIPS

• Know where your meter is

• Keep it clear for emergency responses

• Know how to shut off your gas at the meter

• Keep a wrench in a convenient location

• Do not enclose your meter

• Do not tie pets or other objects to the meter or outside gas pipes

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG

Underground pipes bring natural gas to your house. If you are making an addition, doing major landscaping, or installing fence posts always Call BC ONE CALL at 1-800-474-6886 or *6886 on your cellular to find out the location of underground pipes.

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Propane Gas

What you and your family need to know… Propane is a safe, economical and environmentally friendly fuel. It can be used to heat homes and water, cook indoors and out, dry clothes and heat pools and spas. In properly maintained and operated systems, propane is safe, but like any other fuel gas it must be handled with care and can be dangerous if leaked or spilled.

Propane has an odour -a scent similar to rotten eggs or boiling cabbage - so you can easily detect it. Propane is heavier than air, so when checking for leaks, be aware that it gathers in low-lying areas. What to do if you smell propane Smell gas… act fast!

If you think you smell propane:

• Extinguish all smoking materials and open flames.

• Do NOT touch electrical switches.

• Do NOT light matches or create any other source of ignition.

• Leave the premises.

• Get everyone out of the building or vehicle IMMEDIATELY. Move upwind, away from the smell.

• Go to a nearby phone and call your propane supplier, 911 or your Fire Department emergency number.

• Do NOT re-enter the area until it is safe.

• After the area has been deemed safe, a service technician must repair the leak, turn on the propane, check all the propane appliances and re-light the pilots on the appliances.

In an emergency can I shut off my propane supply?

Yes, if it is necessary to turn off your propane supply before the propane supplier or Fire Department arrives, you should know the Know how to turn off gas supply proper procedure. Give the valve at the meter a quarter turn in either direction so that the lever is crosswise to the pipe to turn it off. If you are not sure how to shut off the gas supply from your tank or cylinder, contact your propane supplier for instructions.

Can I turn the meter on again?

Leave it to an expert. Once the propane is shut off, a qualified technician who can check out the appliances and venting should turn it back on.

General Safety Reminders

Always store your propane cylinders outside in a well ventilated and secure location - never inside an enclosed building.

Propane can cause severe frostbite if it comes in contact with your skin or eyes. Keep your head away from the valves on your tank or cyclinder. A sudden release of propane liquid from the safety valve could result in serious injury.

Keep your tank painted a white, aluminum or other reflective colour. A rusty, unpainted or dark-coloured tank does not reflect sunlight and may absorb heat causing an increase in pressure, leading to a possible discharge from the pressure release valve.

All lines not attached to appliances must be closed and terminated with caps or plugs.

Treat all propane gas odours seriously. Contact your propane supplier, 911 or your Fire Department emergency number if you suspect a leak.

If you or a member of your family has concerns about your ability to smell propane, consider the purchase of a propane gas alarm. But remember, while an alarm may provide an extra measure of warning, it should never be relied upon as a substitute for regular inspection and maintenance of propane appliances.

Barbecuing Saftey

• Inspect and clean your gas barbecue before using it for the first time each season. If the fittings, flex hose or burners are worn or rusted, replace them. Use a flexible brush (made for this purpose) to clean the tubes between the gas valve and the burner, as blockages can occur due to spiders or insects. Replace missing or worn “O” rings.

• Always check the cylinder connections for leaks before lighting for the first time each season or any time you have replaced the tank. Use a leak-detection solution (or 50% liquid soap and water) to check all connections for tightness. Do not use matches or a lighter to check for leaks.

• Always use your grill outdoors in a well-ventilated area clear of the house or other combustibles. Never use it inside.

• Always open the barbecue lid before lighting.

• Never leave the barbecue unattended while cooking. Children should be taught to stay away from the barbecue as it may cause serious burn injuries.

• Use or store cylinders in an upright, vertical position. Store cylinders outdoors away from heat or sources of ignition (matches, smoking materials, etc.), in a secure, well ventilated area.

• Before a cylinder is refilled, have the supplier check for dents, damage, rust or leaks. Cylinders do not last forever. The cylinders must be inspected and re-qualified or replaced every ten years. A date stamp on the collar of the cyclinder indicates when it was last qualified.

• When transporting after fill-up, take the cylinder home immediately. Never leave it in your vehicle. Secure and transport in an upright position keeping the area where the cylinder is located

• When not in use, make sure the grill burner controls are turned off and the cylinder valve is closed.

• Make sure the gas grill is shut off and completely cooled before covering it after use. Know how to turn off gas supply Appliance Operations and Maintenance Refer to the manuals provided with your appliances. They contain operating and maintenance instructions.

Have a Gas Contractor service your appliances, vents and combustion air opening regularly to ensure safe and reliable operation. If you are in an earthquake susceptible zone, ask the contractor to ensure your water heater has been secured as an earthquake-preparedness precaution. Propane appliances, like any other gas appliance, can produce carbon monoxide if not maintained properly. Always be sure your home, camper, or RV is properly ventilated, and install approved carbon monoxide detectors (products with CSA 6.19-01 on the packaging). More than one may be required if sleeping areas are located on different levels of your home.

Meter Tips

If you are served propane by meter:

• Know where your propane meter is.

• Keep it clear for emergency responses.

• Know how to shut off your propane at the meter.

• Keep a wrench in a convenient location.

• Do not enclose your meter.

• Do not tie pets or other objects to the meter or outside propane pipes. Keep your Meter Clear Accumulated snow and ice places stress on your meter piping. Damage to the piping can cause a leak. Blocked regulator vents can dangerously over-pressure the system, affect appliance operation and affect service.

• Keep the meter clear of ice and snow.

• Do not shovel snow up against the meter.

• Take care in using a snow blower or plow near your meter.

• Keep eavetroughs clear and in good repair so that water does not drip on the meter and cause ice build-up on your propane meter or piping.

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Call Before you Dig
BC ONE CALL

Underground pipes bring natural gas to your house. If you’re planning an addition, doing major landscaping or installing fence posts, always call before you dig!
For natural gas line location information, call BC ONE CALL at 1-800-474-6886 or *6886 on your cellular phone (Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm).

For other information or publications about saving energy, using gas appliances, natural gas heating systems, and safety information, please visit www.terasengas.com or contact us at 1-888-224-2710.

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Frequently Called Numbers
Resources
Visit www.terasengas.com for helpful information on a variety of natural gas topics. Or call the Terasen Gas Customer Service number for your area and one of our customer representatives will be pleased to help you.

Customer Service
1-888-224-2710.

Emergency line (24 hours)
1-800-663-9911.

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Safe at Home
Natural gas is colourless, odourless and non-poisonous. For safety, we add an odour to natural gas — a smell like sulphur or rotten eggs — so you can easily detect it.

Follow these easy tips and stay safe at home:
1. Smell gas? Act fast. Leave the building, get to a nearby phone and call the Terasen Gas 24-hour Emergency Line at 1-800-663-9911, or 911 or the fire department emergency number.
2. Call before you dig: 1-800-474-6886 or *6886 on cellular.
3. Maintain your gas appliances.
4. Maintain easy access to your gas meter.
5. Keep your gas meter clear of snow and ice.

For more energy efficiency and safety information, visit www.terasengas.com.

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