Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Forced Heating Problem

Hi Everyone,

I recently moved into an apartment with forced heating/air. When I turned the heating on, I got an odor that smells like the odor you get when you turn on a gas stove (one without pilotless ignition) and don't turn it all the way up to the ignite part on the knob. It's a sulphur-type odor. Also, when we walk in the hallway, close to where the furnace is housed, the air in the area near it is kinda heavy or suffocating, causing me to get dizzy and cough everytime I go near it. The same thing occurs when I'm sitting in my living room (also near the furnace).

We had a person from the gas company come out and inspect it. He said that there were cracks that needed to be sealed and some holes in the furnace that should be taped, but he said that he could not detect a gas leak. However, to be safe, he cut off the pilot light.

That seemed to help the problem. About a week and a half later, the landlord sent someone out to make the needed repairs. The problem is now we're back to square one--there's that odor and suffocating feeling again. What should I do now? Am I just sensitive, or what? :confused:

Lynn

I hope someone checked for a cracked heat exchanger and also took carbon monoxide readings in the stack and inside the house. You should have a carbon monoxide detector for your own safety and press your landlord to resolve the odor issue. I'm not too sure what you meant by the tech 'cutting off the pilot.' That would also cut off your heat.

Ken

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the reply. When I said that the tech from the gas company cut off the pilot, he cut off the heat. The repair person (sent by the landlord) cut it back on after he supposedly "fixed" the furnace, but as I mentioned, I'm back to having the same problem as before.

You suggested that I get a carbon monoxide detector. The reason I had someone from the gas company come out to check the furnace was partly because I thought I might be exposed to carbon monoxide. However, I was a kinda confused because I know that carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, but I was experiencing the same symptoms people get from carbon monoxide exposure--yet there was also that odor I described.

I think you have a serious issue and you need to take it VERY seriously. Without sounding like an alarmist, I would not go to sleep tonight without a carbon monoxide detector in my house if I was you. The byproducts of combustion contain many compounds. The sulphur dioxide may be the component you detect with your nose and may be the component that saved your life. There may not be anything wrong with your furnace but I bet there is. Carbon monoxide is oodrless as you stated. So is natural gas....methyl mercaptan(I think) is added to natural gas so its presence can be detected by the odor. Please don't underestimate the potential danger in your home.

Ken

kfield could not have put it any stronger .. do not sleep in that house untill you go your but out and get at least one if not more co detectors. you do NOT repair heaters with tape.

I am adding a "me too" for emphasis. CO or not, apparently exhaust is getting into your house from your furnace. It shouldn't be. Your landlord needs to get a real technician to resolve the problem. The gas co should have checked for CO while the furnace was running.
Couldn't anyone else smell the odor?

Are there holes no one can see? I suspect that there are.
I would like to see these holes that were taped. Perhaps in the flue? Maybe the flue rusted out and needs replaced.

Is there white powder or rust present on the pipe to the chimney?


[cracked heat exchanger should spread gases uniformly through house; exhaust leak would give localized smell, humidity, and temperature rise in the immediate vicinity of furnace]

Info from the forum on carbon monoxide.

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=159843

Ken

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for your help. I went out and bought a CO detector. I'm going to install it today so that if the alarm goes off, I will call the gas compan immediately. Hey Ken-thanks for the CO links.

Flopshot-It's interesting that you would mention not repairing the heater with tape. When the gas company tech came out to inspect the unit, he said that the holes were on the side of the unit and could be taped. I wonder why he would say that.

Bolide-As far as the gas company checking for carbon monoxide while the unit was running, I don't think they did that. Nor did I see the tech check the flue for rust or a white powder. One of the pipes is covered with insulation. I wonder if that is the flue and could the insulation be causing the odor?

As far as other people smelling the odor, my mother shares the apartment with me and she says that at times she can smell the odor, especially in the hallway near the furnace. This worries me because she is at home for most of the day.

Anyway, thanks again for the help.

Lynn

Hust to give you a frame of reference, the gas company in my area visited a customer to do an annual checkup. The boiler was very old and when they finished, they checked the CO level in the flue pipe. It was 250ppm and that was 50 ppm higher than they allow. There was no leakage into the home and all byproducts of combustion were going up the chimney. However, they disconnected the gas line going to the boiler and plugged it and red tagged the unit. They also conveniently had a salesman in the area and quoted the customer a price to replace the boiler. In keeping with good sound practice, the customer proceeded to get 2 more bids, one of which was mine. I believe the red tagging and leaving a customer in the cold in the winter months is a sales tactic more than a safety tactic. There must be some sort of disclaimer they could have a customer sign instead of leaving them with no heat but that is not what this thread is about.

Ken

When the gas company tech came out to inspect the unit, he said that the holes were on the side of the unit and could be taped.They were in a duct - not the heat exchanger. They could be making the area around the furnace extra warm. You might notice this, but it doesn't mean it is a real hazard.




As far as the gas company checking for carbon monoxide while the unit was running, I don't think they did that.It should be SOP.




Nor did I see the tech check the flue for rust or a white powder.This is a visual thing that you can do with a flashlight and a brown glove.



One of the pipes is covered with insulation. I wonder if that is the flue and could the insulation be causing the odor?
Most likely that is your hot air supply.




As far as other people smelling the odor, my mother shares the apartment with me and she says that at times she can smell the odor, especially in the hallway near the furnace.The leaks can be taped with aluminum foil tape. The gas company guy would know exactly what he was trying to detect as far as an odor.
His hydrocarbon detector is far more reliable than a human nose.
Exhaust from a gas furnace should never get into the house, though it isn't usually dangerous like that from a gasoline engine.

"Flopshot-It's interesting that you would mention not repairing the heater with tape. When the gas company tech came out to inspect the unit, he said that the holes were on the side of the unit and could be taped. I wonder why he would say that."

don't know. but you're not repairing anything of mine with tape.. duct tape, aluminum tape, or un-obtainium space shuttle tape.. tape is for broken race car fenders not my heating system.

"Exhaust from a gas furnace should never get into the house, though it isn't usually dangerous like that from a gasoline engine."

co is co. my red blood cells don't know the difference and i ain't playin games with something that can kill be without knocking on the door.

besides, i thought hydrocarobons were something they checked at the vehicle inspection station.. but then again i hated chemistry

CO is CO.

besides, i thought hydrocarbons were something they checked at the vehicle inspection station..

Natural gas (mainly methane, CH4) is also a hydrocarbon as are most things that we use for fuel.

Modern gas furnaces make negligible CO if they get adequate combustion air (blue not yellow flame).

Internal combustion engines always make CO.

I would take my chances with a gas furnace versus a gasoline engine any day.