For years we have been experiencing through our clients the devastating affect of gas heating equipment and appliances on their health. Serious problems are standard, not only for people with severe sensitivities, but for people with simple common allergies such as asthma. Being exposed to low levels of raw gas or partially burned gas from stove and hot water heater pilots is enough to cause asthma attacks and consistently worsening symptoms. In the world of the chemically sensitive, we have had clients with seriously reduced lung capacity from exposure to one single hot water heater [ in the cellar ] for a prolonged period of time. This is not an unusual situation according to our data base which is derived from numerous interactions with clients from around the country.

Inspections we have done for many years have revealed gas appliances usually leak. Because of my sensitivities, this has always been a major problem for me, so discovering gas leaks in appliances has not been a difficult task. Many appliances spill toxic fumes from partially burned fuel as well. Put these together in a tight house and you have a major health problem.

Incoming gas lines are under pressure. Gas lines attach to control knobs which regulate gas flow into the appliance. These knobs must be able to turn and move. So, many times the seals for these control knobs leak gas. It is possible that replacing these seals may reduce or possibly eliminate leakage for a period of time. Since our findings show that all appliances we have inspected leak, I would not bet the farm on how long seals last. Gas furnaces, stoves and  hot water heaters are the chief culprits.

We recently did an inspection in a house where the gas hot water heater had been turned off about ten years ago, and the hot water was supplied by a boiler. The control knobs for the old hot water heater had been leaking gas for all those years. Our client was not convinced that gas was a problem, but she had not been able to live in the house for the last 5 years. Her health became worse and worse over the years until she finally was unable to live in the house, or any other house with similar contaminants.

Another serious problem with hot water heaters is the typical venting setup is an open bell type design exhaust vent. This allows exhausted fumes to easily enter the interior air space as house pressure demands. Fumes rise out of the appliance and instead of going up the chimney, they can easily escape through the 4 inch air space between the exhaust pipe and the appliance. Who in their right mind would design an exhaust stack that is opened directly over the appliance? With the energy crunch and super tight houses a primary goal for builders and clients alike, all we need is a clothes dryer or some vent fan to be running, and you have serious spillage caused by negative pressure in the house- guaranteed. To say nothing of the influence of opening doors and windows, fireplaces, attic fans, whole house fans and other constantly changing situations that cause "natural pressure changes or venting, creating negative pressure to develop in the building.

Gas hot air  furnaces, as well as hot water heaters, stoves and clothes dryers all have opened flames in most cases. We have heard many stories of buildings blown from their foundations when oil based sealers are used in  renovating homes with gas appliances, when no venting or exterior air supply is allowed. This is an exaggerated result of what happens as air circulates around the building and the furnace, gas stove, or hot water heater pilots or flames, but it is a good example of how air travels around and how serious gas and open flames can be. Gas furnaces have rows of pilots that fire up when heat is demanded. Some units have several sets of these burners. The same problem of spillage is applicable to this scenario when pressure changes just a little bit in a building. Instead of fumes going up the chimney, they are pulled out and spill all over, out into the breathing air of the house. Opened flames can also cause chemical interactions with live toxics such as wet paints and other compounds, that release newly created toxic fumes into breathing air. Some of these toxics can be absorbed into walls and other porous materials and be around for extended periods of time.

The subject of closed combustion units is very misleading. People believe this type of  furnace or boiler design eliminates potential problems. But  currently the LENNOX company is replacing certain types of furnaces that are leaking toxic fumes into the air. Spillage from the raw gas is still a problem, even in brand new units. This gas can still enter the air distribution system and contaminate the entire house. Since gas rises with warm air, it can easily make it's way into any part of the house through walls, up stair ways and so on.

When  people tell me they have gas appliances in their home and they are suffering from allergies and sensitivities, my initial reaction is to tell them to get out of the house right away. Immediately ventilate the space with as much clean exterior air as possible, for as much time as possible. This environment can be severely risky to your health.

I personally will not have gas appliances in my house. But if you have to have them, be sure to have an electronic ignition type stove and always have lots of ventilation. If you live in a super tight house, this will be a problem. As I said, even though you may not have a pilot burning, this is only half the problem, and gas will be leaking from control knobs.

QUESTION; Won't the gas company inspect your house and tell you if the unit leaks?

HEALTHY HOMES ANSWER MAN; they say they will, and they will come right over, but the answer will probably be NO. Here's the reason- the equipment they are using is not sensitive enough to detect gas leaks at the level that is dangerous. In fact, not too long ago, a client didn't  believe the gas was leaking in here house. The gas people came numerous times and always told her "no problems". One time when I was there she called and had them come over. I smelled the leaks- he checked with his advanced sophisticated BACHERACH gas detector and found nothing. The type of testing equipment he was using is good as standards go. But not good enough. If you read the specifications on that exact type of tester- you will see that it has a plus and minus 5 % accuracy. This is the manufacturers way of letting you know, even if the equipment is rated to detect down to 0 parts per million, it may not be accurate to up to 5 parts per million! Ohhhhhh.....I get it!!!!

I went down after watching this poor guy seat it out for half an hour trying to figure out why his miracle tester would not detect a leak, and cupped my hands around the knob.
BEEEEPPPPP!!!!! Off goes the alarm!!

QUESTION; Of  all the appliances,which are the worst?
ANSWER MAN; They can all be very bad- and the type of house and site issues influence how bad a little bit of gas can be- but typically gas hot water heaters are the worst, furnaces second. If you have a gas hot water heater- I would get out of the house immediately, and replace it with electric before I came back. If you have kids with allergies, this can be one of the main trigger items for asthma and mold allergies. It can be very dangerous for kids.
 

Tad Taylor's Healthy Homes LLC