Which heating method typically produces carbon monoxide?

Natural gas heating can produce carbon monoxide because it involves combustion, which occurs when natural gas is burned to generate heat. During this process, if there is not enough oxygen for complete combustion, carbon monoxide—a colorless, odorless gas—can form as a byproduct. This makes natural gas heating systems, such as furnaces or boilers, a potential source of carbon monoxide if they are not properly maintained or ventilated.

In contrast, electric heating does not involve combustion, so it does not produce carbon monoxide. Wood burning can produce carbon monoxide as well, but this typically depends on the efficiency of the combustion process and the type of wood used. However, among the choices presented in the context of typical heating methods and their maintenance, natural gas heating is most commonly associated with the risk of carbon monoxide production under improper conditions. Solar heating, being a non-combustible method, also does not produce carbon monoxide. Thus, natural gas heating is identified as the method that typically produces this hazardous gas.