Gas fired appliances in family room

[Anonymous]

We have a 90s three story townhouse, and our ground floor has the garage, foyer and family room.

In our layout, the garage and family room span end to end of ground floor. The gas water heater and furnace are in a small utility closet between garage and family room.

But in our configuration, the garage is closed off and the utility closet has a gusset red vent door to the family room.

1) does anyone know why they put our gas appliances in our family room? Would it be possible to open the other side of the closet to the garage and close off the family room?

2) how many people have gas appliances in their finished basement or den, and do you let your kids play down there unattended? Does air quality suffer, like NOx or does the flue catch things really well?

[Anonymous]

We have a playroom in the basement and the gas dryer and hot water heater are down there too, in separate rooms.

I have a carbon monoxide detector near each appliance just in case. This detector gives the actual PPM count so you can see if there has been a spike even if it waasn't enough to set off the alarm.

[Anonymous]

Our gas hot water heater and furnace are in our finished basement (in the utility room) and our kids play down there all of the time. It's a walkout basement. I've never been concerned about air quality. Is this a new thing?

[Anonymous]

Get a carbon monoxide detector near each appliance. Leave the gas in. I switched from gas to electric for an range and I regret it as even though I love the electric when we lose electricity we cannot cook. We plan to put in a gas fireplace or heater when we remodel the basement for heat as Pepco has kept us without heat for as much as a week in the winter.

They are probably located there as that was the only reasonable place and due to venting requirements as you need a vent for gas. I do not let young kids play on another floor alone. If you do, just get a good lock on the utility room.

[Anonymous]

Becoming more issue. LowNox water heaters are coming.

http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/1304c9804885560bb91cfb6a6515bb18/HandbookNitrogenOxides.pdf?MOD=AJPERES