The family of four who was found dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning had recently installed a water heater that was leaking gas at high levels according to police.
Gas water heater leaking carbon monoxide.
Chemicals found in cleaners may be a dangerous mix with gas fumes coming from the water heater.
Dripping or heavy condensation on the windows where the appliance is installed this can be a great indicator if you have taken measures to reduce moisture production though it could also imply that the humidifier is set very high.
Keep the area around and near the gas water heater clean using plain water if possible.
The bad news is that even small amounts of it may be deadly if the carbon monoxide runs in your bloodstream.
There are three main preventable reasons that a water heater can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fire officials are urging residents to keep these tips in mind to prevent carbon monoxide leaks and stay safe.
If you see water on top of the system you ve probably got a venting problem with the water heater.
Carbon monoxide is the result of incomplete combustion due to the lack of oxygen in the combustion process.
If you are experiencing issues with carbon monoxide co due to a gas water heater in your home you should immediately call a gas plumber plumber hvac technician or home inspector to investigate.
As you may know carbon monoxide is different from carbon dioxide co 2.
Essentially this would be the same as if a car engine was left running in a garage for several hours.
The appliance wasn t installed properly in the first place the homeowner neglects it and doesn t perform proper maintenance and the surrounding area isn t properly ventilated leaving the gas with nowhere to escape should it leak.
If your carbon monoxide detector is sounding call 911 immediately.
Because of the leak the water heater kept running to keep up with the flow of water.
What was the cause of the deadly gas.
Despite the fact that you can neither smell nor see or taste the gas there are few signs you can look for to detect a carbon monoxide leakage or buildup in your home including.
Put carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home to alert you if the levels should become dangerous.
The pipe could be clogged by a nest or damaged resulting in co dangers.
According to fire chief kevin farrell the carbon monoxide build up was caused by a leaky hot water heater.
You ll usually see a buildup of soot there too.
Also keep the area clear of combustible or flammable materials.
This professional can inspect the appliance to check for correct installation and venting as well as diagnose and correct any problems due to faulty parts improper maintenance or other issues.
If the flue pipe rusts there s likely a co leak.
