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Guide to Using the TIF 8800 for Combustible Gas or Heating Flue Gas Detection InspectAPedia®  -          Using the TIF 8800 Gas Detector & pocket-sized gas detectors for combustible and heating flue gases Guide to detecting flue gas leaks, heat exchanger leaks, carbon monoxide, chimney leaks, sewer gas leaks Warnings about using instruments for detection of toxic gases Questions & answers and safety advice for using combustible gas detection equipment

How to test for combustible gas or flue gas leaks: This document explains how to use the TIF 8800 combustible gas analyzer and similar equipment, outlining methods used to test for the level of toxic and other gases in buildings and in outdoors. In related documents we give references and explanation regarding toxicity of several of the most common indoor gases, based on literature search and obtained from the U.S. government and expert sources. We include reference links to many articles that can help diagnose the source of dangerous carbon monoxide in buildings.

Our page top photo shows a dangerously leaky heating flue - in this case it was visually obvious and no flue gas detection equipment was necessary. Flue gas detectors and combustible gas analyzers such as the TIF8800 discussed here can add an additional level of testing for dangerous gas leaks, flue gas leaks, and assist in detecting leaky chimneys or unsafe gas or oil fired heat exchangers. This text may assist readers in understanding these topics. However it should by no means be considered exhaustive. We include safety warnings about relying on any instrument to detect flue gas leaks, natural gas leaks, LP or propane gas leaks, etc.

Seek prompt advice from your doctor or health/safety experts if you have any reason to be concerned about exposure to toxic gases.

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Other Tools Used to Measure Gases in Air

Guide to Using the TIF 8800 Combustible Gas Detector

The photograph shows our TIF 8800 combustible gas analyzer being used to sniff for possible sewer gases at an industrial sink.

The TIF 8800 gas detection instrument is very sensitive to a wide range of combustibles and hydrocarbons, and is a quick and reliable way to check for gas leaks at LP or natural gas lines as well as for flue gas spillage.

An audible signal which makes a "geiger-counter"-like ticking noise will speed up as the sensor is moved closer to a leak source. This permits the user to not only detect that a combustible gas leak is present, but to follow the gas leak concentration to its source.

The user can adjust the actual field sensitivity of the instrument using a knob visible at the lower right of the silver control panel in the photograph. The TIF instrument company rates the instrument as responding to very small traces of combustible gases, from 50 PPM to 1000 PPM.

Because it responds to a wide spectrum of hydrocarbons and other gases or chemicals, it must be used with some intelligence.

When checking gas piping for leaks, if the plumber has recently sealed a connection using certain pipe sealants containing aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, this instrument will respond just as if there were a gas leak. It's a fabulous tool when used with thought, and it has often found gas leaks that were otherwise missed by the soap or match (dangerous) method used by many plumbers.

To maximize the sensitivity of the TIF8800 and thus its ability to detect combustible gas leaks, we recommend turning on the instrument while outside in fresh air (and away from any running automobiles or similar equipment).

Let the instrument stabilize, adjust it for a steady but fairly sensitive beeping tone, then enter the area to be inspected.

Remember to test the air for combustible gases at various levels or heights: floor, mid-room height, and near the ceiling, since despite the varying weights of gases (such as LP gas and natural gas), a combustible gas or flue gas might be found at an unexpected location.

For example, flue gases that should be heavier than air and should be found accumulating at floor level may in fact be accumulating at ceiling level in a building where they are carried while mixed with other hot or warm combustion air products (which rise by natural convection).

Because the TIF 8800 responds to a very wide range of combustible gases, it is useful in tracking down sewer gas or septic gas odors as well. See

• Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells and odors
• Building Drains & Sewer Lines - diagnosing odors in buildings coming from leaky sewer lines or drain lines
• Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Odors, Smells, Gases - diagnosis and cure of all kinds of odors in buildings

Safety Warnings About Using a Gas Detection Device to Check for Dangerous Flue Gases or Natural Gas / LP / Propane Gas Leaks

Watch out: Testing for any gas in a building by relying solely on test instruments can be dangerously misleading.

False positive gas test results: The TIF8800, for example, is a wonderfully sensitive instrument and it can detect very low levels of flue gas or combustible gases. But it will also respond to other substances that are miscible in air. Just try breathing on the sensing tip when the instrument is set to a sensitive position and you'll get a response. So test instruments work best in the hands of a very experienced building investigator and instrument user.

False negative results: any gas detection instrument is vulnerable to variations in building conditions or in the operation of mechanical systems in the building that can temporarily hide the presence of a dangerous gas leak. For example, a leaky heat exchanger in a heating furnace may leak detectable gases into the warm air plenum only until the blower fan comes on. Changes in building pressures, open or shut windows or doors, fans on or off, and other such variables can completely change the detectable presence of a dangerous gas indoors.

For this reason, if you call a fire department or emergency worker to test a building for the presence of a dangerous gas such as flue gases, leaks in natural or LP or propane gas lines or equipment, or carbon monoxide levels, even if the worker detects no gas leak present at the time of the inspection that is not a guarantee that the building is safe.

What should you do about this gas test reliability problem? Where there are reasons to be concerned about unsafe gas levels in a building, a more thorough building investigation is in order. Such an investigation includes at least

• Taking a history of building related indoor air or safety or gas leak complaints
• A visual inspection of the entire building for possible conditions that could produce or hide a dangerous gas leak, such as the condition of chimneys, vents, heating equipment and appliances as well as building fans and ventilation systems.
• Tests for the presence of leaking chimneys, flues, appliances, gas piping etc. These may include introducing of a tracer gas into heating equipment to test for leaks in a heat exchanger or flue.

Readers should see Warnings re instruments for detection of gases for additional recommendations.

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers and safety advice for using combustible gas detection equipment

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CARBON DIOXIDE - CO₂
OXYGEN - O₂
GAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS
  Drager gas sampling pump
  Colorimetric gas detection tubes
  GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST
  TIF 5000 Gas Detector
  TIF 8800 Gas Detector
  Warnings: gas detectors
  Warning: gas detector tubes

• TIF Instruments, Inc., 9101 NW 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33150 (This is where we've sent our TIF 8800 and TIF 5000 for repairs).
• Jennifer Moore, Sales Administrator, Nextteq, LLC, Tampa FL, www.nextteq.com 813-249-5888. Nextteq is the master Distributor for Gastec in the United States. According to the company's website, Gastec Gas Sampling Pumps are the industry’s first and only pumps to provide on-the-spot measurement of ambient temperature. [Private email, JM to DF 5/23/08]
• "Choosing and Using a Carbon Monoxide CO Monitor," Dan Friedman, The ASHI Technical Journal, Vol. 2 No. 1, July1991
• "Heat Exchanger Testing, Who's Right?" Dan Friedman, The ASHI Technical Journal, Vol. 2 No. 1, July1991
• "Case History: LP Gas Leak - Using the TIF 8800," Dan Friedman, The ASHI Technical Journal, Vol. 2 No. 1, July1991
• Chimneys, Flues, Woodstoves & Fireplaces: Safety Concerns, safe and proper venting of combustion gases, carbon monoxide hazards
• GASES, EXPOSURE, TESTING Toxic Gas Exposure Hazards and Test Protocols including links to our toxic gas exposure screening and gas testing protocols.
• Gases: Toxic gases, indoor exposure levels, testing, identification
• A Toxic Gas Testing Plan: A Gas Sampling Plan for Residential and Commercial buildings lists some of the toxic indoor gases for which we test, depending on the building complaint and building conditions
• Gas Exposure Hazard Levels: for Toxic Gas Exposure to Ammonia, Arsine, Arsenic, Bromine, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Hydride, Ozone - allowable exposure levels and hazard levels
• Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity hazard level, poisoning symptoms, & testing
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity hazard levels, poisoning symptoms, & testing
• Formaldehyde: US EPA. UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation) was previously considered a hazard (formaldehyde outgassing). Subsequent research virtually closed concern regarding this material; however formaldehyde appears to remain a health concern for sensitive individuals.
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Sampling for gases in air such as VOC's, MVOC's, toxic chemicals, and combustion products.
  Unfortunately no single test or tool can detect all possible building contaminants. We use methods and equipment which can test for common contaminants. If the identity of a specific contaminant is known in advance we can also test for a very large number of specific contaminant gases in buildings.
  We use gas sampling equipment provided by the two most reliable companies in the world, Draeger-Safety's detector-tubes and Drager accuro bellows pump, the Gastec cylinder pump and detector-tube system produced by Gastec. We also have used gas detection tubes by Gastec previously marketed for use with Sensidyne pumps but Sensidyne pumps now use Kitagawa gas detection tubes. We also use Sensidyne's Gilian air pump. For broad screening for combustibles and a number of other toxic gases and for leak tracing we also use Amprobe's Tif8850 and 8800, and the TIF 5000 automatic halogen leak detector (for air conditioning and cooling system refrigerant leak detection). All of these instruments, their applications, and sensitivities (minimum detectable limits) for specific gases are described in our Gas Sampling Plan online document.
• Radon Gas U.S. EPA Radon level maps

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

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