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The purpose of the Combustion Safety Test is to ensure that all combustion appliances (furnace, boiler, water heater, gas kitchen appliances, etc) are operating safely, and at the rated efficiency. Equipment is tested for combustible gas leaks, and the level of carbon monoxide in the home is measured. We verify, under worst-case conditions, that flue gases are venting to the outdoors, and that excessive carbon monoxide is not being produced during combustion. A successful test will give homeowners peace-of-mind that their family will be safe.

The Combustion Safety Test includes tests for:

• worst-case depressurization,
• flue gas spillage,
• draft pressure,
• pre-dilution carbon monoxide,
• burner steady state efficiency, and
• combustible gas leaks.

Whenever building envelope improvements are made it is critically important to make sure that the improved building air-tightness did not impact the ability of the combustion appliances to properly vent flue gases to the outside.

Here are two examples why we retest after work is completed:

• New windows reduce heat loss through the glass, but they also reduce air leakage. This is good because it saves energy and makes the home more comfortable. However, your furnace or water heater may be using air that leaks through your old windows. There is no way to know whether the new windows will affect your furnace, fireplaces or water heater without testing before and after installing the new windows.
• Sealing leaky return ducts in your attic will save energy and may keep dust from coming into your home from the attic. When you seal those leaks, more air will be pulled through your return grill. In some cases, this increase in airflow through your return grill may compete with a fireplace or similar device. Test for this after the ducts have been sealed.