Carbon Monoxide Measurements in Homes

Carbon monoxide is one of the contaminants in homes that engenders the most concern. Programs that evaluate homes spend substantial effort evaluating carbon monoxide. Furnaces, boilers, water heaters, and ovens/ranges are common sources of carbon monoxide in the indoor environment. This paper presents results of carbon monoxide measurements from two studies that looked at homes that underwent energy efficiency upgrades as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s low-income Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). In the first study, carbon monoxide was measured in the flues of furnaces, boilers, and water heaters, in the outlets of ovens/ranges, and in the indoor ambient air. Measurements in the appliance combustion gases was done once while at the site, and indoor air measurements were done using dataloggers recording for about one week. In the second study the focus was only on measured indoor ambient air, also with measurements using dataloggers for about a week. The paper also includes a comparison of carbon monoxide before and after retrofits.