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Water Heater Saves Family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning!
by AJ Fanter
Refacing Cabinet Columnist
My daughter, husband, and I are lucky; a broken hot water heater saved us from carbon monoxide poisoning. Had it not stopped working we would have no idea we had a carbon monoxide problem.
Two years ago my husband stepped into a freezing cold shower, but it saved our lives. While we had heat and power, we had no hot water. We called a plumber who relit the water heater’s pilot light, but just hours later it was out again. We called another plumber. He too relit the pilot light, but a few hours later when we went to see why there still wasn’t any hot water, we noticed it was out again! Then we decided to call someone who knew both plumbing and heating. That’s when we learned our problem wasn’t the pilot light, the water heater, or even the furnace. It was a buildup of carbon monoxide due to back-drafting. Had the water heater kept working, it’s scary to imagine what could have happened to our family. After all, carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly, and we didn’t have a single carbon monoxide detector in our home. Needless to say, the next day my husband installed a carbon monoxide detector in every sleeping room of our house in addition to our kitchen. To keep them up, he tests them every 6 months.
An Unseen Enemy: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Odorless, colorless, and tasteless, carbon monoxide gas is a byproduct of the burning of oil, wood, gas, coal, and kerosene. Not only can it take your life, but cause long term health damage at even low levels. While most household combustion appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, dryers, and ranges are safe, these appliances, in some circumstances, can release deadly pollutants, such as carbon monoxide into your home. According to the EPA, the proper selection, installation, and regular maintenance and inspection of these appliances is very important. So is providing good ventilation and installing a carbon monoxide detector.
Installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector
While appliance maintenance is the single best way to protect you and your family, having a carbon monoxide detector or alarm can be a real life saver. Designed to warn you of any unusual build-up of carbon monoxide in your home, a CO detector can save the people you love from the deadly effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Sources
About the Author
Amy Fanter is a freelance writer based in Reno, NV.
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