We’ve posted several articles on our Facebook page lately where Illinois news outlets have reported on stories involving appliance malfunctions that lead to serious health and safety problems. Proper prevention and maintenance can prevent these types of stories.

It is important to make sure your appliances are working properly. As part of all of our energy audits, we perform safety testing for carbon monoxide and gas leaks.

“4 released from hospitals after home fills with ‘lethal’ level of carbon monoxide”

The most recent article from the Chicago Tribute involves 4 people who passed out due to high levels of carbon monoxide in the home. Read the full article here. Here’s an expert that illustrates the situation:

“Fire officials said they found the oven door open and all four stove burners on, heating pots of water as a makeshift humidifier, officials said. The furnace was on but malfunctioning, which is why the stove and burners were probably on, Fire Chief Tom Sutkus said.

“We highly recommend you don’t do that,” Sutkus told reporters at the scene. “If you have a problem with the furnace, please get the furnace checked. Get it serviced. Do not use your stove to heat the house. Do not use the burners. Do not use the oven.”

The key takeaway points to learn from include:

• There was no carbon monoxide detector in the house—while carbon monoxide detectors go off at levels that can still cause some harm, it would have alerted the people in this home of the issue. However, it’s important to also test carbon monoxide detectors and replace them every 10 years.
• The carbon monoxide leak probably came from either the furnace or the stove—the article mentions the furnace wasn’t working properly so they used the stove for heat and the stove top for a humidifier, neither of which are ideal situations.

“Dryer fire causes $30,000 in damage”

A November article from the Journal Star (Peoria, Illinois) hits very close to home, when a fire started due to the “dirty exhaust vent from the gas dryer.” Read the full article here.

The key takeaway points to learn from include:

• Clean out your dryer vents on a regular basis—this involves the tube running from your dryer to the outside and is something you can do yourself if you want.

“North Mac schools to install carbon monoxide detectors after leak sickens 140”

In September the State Journal Register (Springfield, Illinois) reported that a “a broken furnace vent”  carbon monoxide levels that caused dozens of students to be taken to the hospital. You can read more here.A related article on this topic said the cause was a water heater pipe that malfunctioned causing leak and states:“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer because you don’t realize you’re absorbing it,” Macoupin County Emergency Management Director Jim Pitchford said. “Carbon monoxide can kill you if the exposure is long enough. There were people taken to the hospital who were not in critical condition but very serious condition.”

The key takeaway points to learn from include:

• Regardless of whether it was the furnace or water heater, both are sources of carbon monoxide leaks—which is why we test both of them during our audits.

Keep Your Home Safe

If you are concerned about your home or building, keep in mind that EverGreen Home Energy will identify any carbon monoxide hazards that may be in the home during an energy audit. Call us today at (309) 253-2242 to schedule your audit and get on the right track for a safe, comfortable, and efficient home.