Why should I open a window when I have a fire in the fireplace?
It’s important that your home has adequate outside air for combustion when you have a fire in the fireplace. Insufficient air for combustion may result in a backventing condition where outside air is pulled into the home through the furnace and water heater vents, spilling the products of combustion from these appliances into the room.Newer homes in El Paso County have been required to have a fresh air duct from the outside to the cold air return of the furnace. This is designed to provide adequate air for the combustion process in the furnace and water heater. However, the air duct may not be sized to also provide sufficient outside air for a fire in the fireplace.
Therefore, when you have a fire in your fireplace, it’s important that you crack a window one to two inches.
With the weather being especially cold this winter, I am sure there are many Colorado Springs residents taking advantage of their fireplaces. After all, there is nothing like having a warm fire to come home to after work….especially when it’s snowing outside. One thing to remember, though, when lighting your gas or wood burning fireplace is carbon monoxide. The fireplace is suspect number one when it comes to carbon monoxide creation in the home and it is important to ventilate your home well while running any fireplace. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 200 people are killed each year due to fireplace-produced carbon monoxide. CO is created when the fire does not receive enough oxygen (due to poor ventilation). Instead of creating a bi-product of carbon dioxide, the fire produces carbon monoxide.
I love my fireplace and would never give it up. So how do you fix this carbon monoxide problem, you ask? It’s relatively simple. Firstly, have your fireplace inspected and cleaned each year to reduce the potential for carbon monoxide creation. Secondly, make sure your gas fireplace is properly sealed, leaving no chance for carbon monoxide to escape the fireplace system and infiltrate your home. And thirdly, you can crack a window while running your fireplace. Ventilation is the easiest remedy for carbon monoxide in the home. So, all that being said, I hope everyone in the Colorado Springs real estate area is keeping warm this winter and enjoying their fireplaces with a nice hot cup of hot chocolate!
