Carbon Monoxide Precautions

[HayesFXFD17]

Sidewall vents are common in new heating and water heating systems, especially high efficiency units. These vents act as a breathing device for these systems. They take in fresh air and mix it with fuel to produce heat, while discharging exhaust fumes that can include carbon monoxide (CO).

If a vent becomes buried in snow or obstructed by a shrub, this may shut down your equipment – or draw exhaust fumes into your home, which can produce high levels of CO inside your house.

To prevent these problems, it's important to remove snow around the vent approximately 48 inches in all directions, and trim any shrubs around the vent, so that your equipment can discharge exhaust.

Please take the time to ensure this is done after each snow event.

Justin Hayes
Deputy Chief
Fairfax Fire Dept.

[rod anode]

 funny thing i got a call the other morning at 4.30 in the morning saying they didnt have and heat i felt bad for them but told them i donot shovel snow after they shoveled it away from the vent the furnace ran fine imagine that

[7F24]

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[mkr]

So true!  Rich shovelled our dryer vent out and we have our furnace vent up high!

[rod anode]

i see that ,do you want those tanks around back?

[Chris Santee]

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