I have the luxury of being able to work from home most of the time, so imagine my surprise when I looked out my window to see the gas company sticking a probe into my furnace exhaust vent. I know — they didn’t even buy me dinner first!
I immediately went outside and asked them what they were doing. My mailman had seen them working in the neighborhood and mentioned that he thought he smelled natural gas coming from the vent. Luckily, it wasn’t natural gas, but there was a high concentration of carbon monoxide. I called the heating guy — because this was something my DIY hands weren’t going near — and he inspected the furnace.
My family was lucky because the exhaust was pulling out most of the excess carbon dioxide, but if that pipe had become clogged, then the gas could have entered the home. I have a carbon monoxide detector on every level of my home just in case something like this happens. Natural gas has an odor that is unmistakable, but carbon monoxide doesn’t. It sneaks into the home and, even in low doses, can have devastating effects.
If there is a small leak of carbon monoxide, and families are exposed to it for long periods of time, then it can cause brain damage. The body will always accept carbon monoxide over oxygen, even if the CO is only in small quantities. It’s a strange joke Mother Nature pulled. If it is a major leak in the home, then the CO will completely overtake the body. You’ll start to feel sleepy, pass out and then never wake up.
It is required by law that all homes have a carbon monoxide detector. It should be tested weekly to make sure it works and that the batteries are replaced regularly. Something as simple as a small $20 detector can save your life and the lives of your family.
When I was a reporter, I had to cover a story of an elderly couple that died in their home due to carbon monoxide poisoning. It was sad. It was tragic and it was completely preventable. This was before the mandated detector law, and I admit that before the law I never had one in my home either. It’s a mistake that will never happen again, and something you, too, should make a priority.
See also:
About brock
