Carbon Monoxide Risk From Pellet Storage?
Heating with pellets is modern and a good alternative to oil. But be careful: the wood pellets can produce an odorless, non-irritating, and thus undetectable, yet deadly gas — carbon monoxide. Anyone who inhales too much of it risks fatal poisoning. Our article shows how to still heat safely with pellets.
This article covers the following:
- How does heating with pellets work?
- Risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in pellet storage
- Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning from pellets
- How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from pellets
How does heating with pellets work?
Wood pellets are small cylindrical pressed pieces made of dry, natural residual wood (sawdust) sourced from the sawmill industry. They're about 3.15 to 40 mm long and about 6 mm in diameter. Using high pressure and no chemical binders, the sawdust is pressed into shape. This, and the lignin naturally contained in wood, is what holds the pellets together.
Once the pellets end up in a heating system, they're automatically transported from storage containers via auger conveyors or a blower into the combustion unit. A control system optimizes the feed rate, and a regulated air supply controls combustion.
Risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in pellet storage
Due to their form, pellets are delivered either in bags or even by tanker truck, then stored in fabric silos or underground tanks. And that's exactly where the danger lurks. Our two reports show how dangerous the odorless carbon monoxide (CO) in pellet storage can become.
Case 1, carbon monoxide poisoning from pellets: death of a pregnant woman
In 2011, a 28-year-old Swiss woman died in a pellet storage room. Investigations found that the woman died from the pellets' carbon monoxide emissions.
Case 2, carbon monoxide poisoning from pellets: three employees poisoned
In January 2017, three municipal workers in the canton of Vaud unknowingly came into contact with carbon monoxide in a heating system. One of the three lost consciousness already at the door to the pellet storage room. He was rescued by his colleagues at the very last second.
It's often known that carbon monoxide (CO) can form in poorly functioning systems when burning pellets. What's often overlooked, though, is that carbon monoxide can also arise during pellet storage. The reason is chemical processes triggered within the pellets, which are strongly promoted by enclosed spaces. If the pellet storage room isn't adequately ventilated, the gas accumulates. For anyone entering the pellet storage room, this carbon monoxide can then become fatal. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, over 600 people die of CO poisoning in Germany every year.
Stay well informed, for your healthy life
Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning from pellets
If the dangerous respiratory poison CO is inhaled, it reaches the entire bloodstream via the lungs. There, it binds to hemoglobin in the red blood cells — exactly where oxygen (O₂) normally attaches. This means the red blood cells can no longer absorb and transport enough oxygen. Oxygen levels in the body drop rapidly. Organs are no longer adequately supplied. The body collapses. This means carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to death within a short time.
Especially problematic: the toxic CO is invisible, has no taste, and also can't be felt. On top of that come the fairly nonspecific symptoms and signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Drowsiness, nausea, headaches, or dizziness can, after all, also point to less dangerous causes such as dehydration. Besides these effects, carbon monoxide poisoning also shows up as cardiac arrhythmia, dizziness, and shortness of breath. The impending danger becomes clearer with unconsciousness.
How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from pellets
With the air-Q, the powerful and smart indoor air quality measuring device, you're well protected against carbon monoxide poisoning. The air monitor reliably checks the air components in your pellet storage room in real time and warns you when thresholds are reached. Even when you're not home, you receive all important data and warnings via our air-Q app. This way, you find out as soon as things get dicey, even while out and about.