During a typhoon, if you keep the windows and doors closed, you may die if you turn on the water heater! The Deadly Myth of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and a Guide to Proper Ventilation and Exhaust

Taking a hot bath during a typhoon may be more dangerous than the typhoon itself

When a typhoon strikes, almost everyone's instinctive reaction is to close all the doors and windows at home to block the violent storm. This action itself is fine, but if your home uses a traditional natural exhaust (RF type) gas water heater, and the water heater is installed on the balcony or indoors, the combination of "close the doors and windows + turn on the water heater" may become a ticket to the intensive care unit or even the morgue.

According to statistics from the Fire Department of the Ministry of Interior over the years, the vast majority of deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning in Taiwan every year occur during cold snaps, typhoons and other weather conditions that require closed doors and windows. Victims often lose consciousness unknowingly while taking a shower in their own bathroom, and by the time their family members find out, they have been unable to save themselves.

Why is carbon monoxide so scary? Because you can’t even notice

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas produced when gas combustion is incomplete. Contrary to what everyone thinks, the odor of gas itself is artificially added odorant to make you smell gas leakage. But carbon monoxide is completely colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and the human nose has no reaction to it.

After carbon monoxide enters the lungs, it will first bind to heme (the binding force is 200 to 250 times that of oxygen), making the blood unable to carry oxygen normally. Mild poisoning will cause cold-like symptoms such as headache, nausea, fatigue, etc., which can be easily ignored. Once the concentration increases, a person will become comatose within a few minutes, and continued exposure will lead to death from brain hypoxia.

How does Taiwanese regulations stipulate the installation of water heaters?

According to the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Interior, there is a strict correspondence between the installation location of gas water heaters and the exhaust method:

• Outdoor type (RF type): Can only be installed outdoors in a well-ventilated location. This is the most traditional design, using natural convection to exhaust exhaust gases outdoors. The problem is that many old apartments in Shuangbei install RF models in balconies that have been enclosed by windows, which is equivalent to turning "outside" into "indoor" and completely losing the ventilation effect.
• Semi-closed forced exhaust type (FE type): The equipment itself has an exhaust fan, which forces the exhaust gas to the outdoors through the exhaust pipe. Suitable for installation in indoor spaces with exhaust pipes.
• Closed forced air supply and exhaust type (FF type): The safest design, both the air intake and exhaust are connected to the outside through pipelines, without consuming indoor air at all. Suitable for completely enclosed spaces.

Key points: If your balcony has been installed with windows (which is very common in Taipei and New Taipei), the original "outdoor" environment has essentially become "indoor". In this case, continued use of the RF type water heater constitutes a high risk condition for carbon monoxide poisoning and should be converted to a FE or FF type as soon as possible.

The four-word secret for typhoon natural gas safety: ban, close, push, and leave

If you smell something like a gas leak in your home (that's the odor, not carbon monoxide), be sure to follow these steps:

1. Prohibited:It is prohibited to switch any electrical appliances on or off. Electric fans, light switches, charging mobile phones, even ringing the doorbell, plugging and unplugging may produce arc sparks and ignite gas.
2. Off: Turn off the gas main switch. For barreled gas, tighten the cylinder valve; for natural gas, close the inlet valve.
3. Push: Gently push the window open for ventilation, and do so slowly to avoid sparks caused by metal friction. Let the gas escape naturally to the outdoors.
4. Away: Leave the building to a safe place outdoors and call 119 on your mobile phone or notify the gas company.

Five daily habits to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

Conclusion: Ventilation is more important than closing windows

It is right to close doors and windows during a typhoon, but this does not mean that all vents must be sealed. If you have a gas water heater at home, at least make sure the exhaust pipe is clear and the installation space has a basic air intake source. A better approach is to find a qualified plumbing or gas renovation technician to evaluate the installation environment of your home's water heater before the typhoon comes, and make modifications if necessary. The installation cost of an FE type forced exhaust water heater is about NT$8,000 to NT$15,000. Compared with a human life, this money is not worth saving.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs' latest "Regulations on Consumer Electrical Equipment Installation" and the key points of electricity safety in old houses

Due to the popularity of high-power household appliances (such as air fryers, microwave ovens, dishwashers, instantaneous electric water heaters, and IH furnaces) in recent years, the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs has revised the "Regulations on Consumer Electrical Equipment Installation" many times to strictly require the diversion and protection mechanisms of residential electricity circuits. Statistics show that more than 30% of building fires in Taiwan are caused by electrical factors, among which "old wire insulation deteriorates and short circuits", "socket contacts are oxidized and loose, poor contact" and "non-fuse switch (NFB) overloaded and failed to trip" are the three main fatal causes.

Old apartments in Shuangbei that are more than 30 years old have a total original designed power capacity of only 30A to 40A, and several rooms often share the same 1.6mm or 2.0mm circuit. In the modern standard safety configuration, kitchen electrical cabinets, bathroom equipment, and air-conditioning and heating machines must all be equipped with 5.5mm² dedicated circuits (single circuit and single socket). It is recommended that the main switch box be upgraded to a busbar (Busbar) integrated distribution board, and the total amperage is increased to 75A or 100A (a qualified electrical appliance contractor needs to be entrusted to Taipower to review the additional power capacity).

Residential electricity self-test and regular inspection checklist

• Appearance and temperature of the socket: Touch the outer cover of the commonly used socket lightly with the back of your hand. If it feels lukewarm or if you find that the plastic socket is yellowed and charred, or the plug is loose and shaking after being plugged in, it means that the internal copper plate clamping force is exhausted or the contact resistance is too high, and you should immediately cut off the power and replace it.
• Regular testing of leakage circuit breakers (ELCB): For leakage circuit breakers in humid places such as balconies, bathrooms, and kitchen sinks, regulations require that the "TEST button" on the switch be pressed once every 1 to 3 months to confirm that it can automatically trip and cut off the power supply instantly.
• Serial connection and overloading of extension cords are strictly prohibited: Extension cords should be purchased with 2.0mm thick wire diameter products that have CNS certification and automatic overload power-off protection. Do not share the same extension cord with high energy-consuming appliances to ensure zero hidden danger to life and property at home.