On Air Now

Heart FM Mornings

5:30am - 10:00am

  • 519-537-1047

Now Playing

Listen Live Listen Live HD2

Make Sure Vents Are Clear During the Winter

Wednesday, 6 January 2016 06:58

The Fire Department is warning homeowners to check their vents to make sure carbon monoxide is able to escape the house safely.

The Woodstock Fire Department is reminding all homeowners to check their vents this winter to protect your family from carbon monoxide.

Public Information Coordinator with the Fire Department Lisa Woods says they want people to make it a habit to check their vents. "Get outside and take a look at where your vents are located; your furnace vents, your dryer vents - make sure that snow and ice is not building up. They usually are at the side of your house. It doesn't take a lot of snow, just blowing snow and like I said, ice as well, it's been a factor the last couple of days. That's where your carbon monoxide is getting out so if it's blocked it's getting back into your house."

Even the mild temperatures we have been seeing during the day can create a risk according to Woods. "When we have warm days where the water is starting to melt like it did last week and then froze again really quickly then you could have some ice build up there."

The threat of carbon monoxide remains prevalent as one family of four in Waterloo was taken to hospital yesterday after a build up of CO caused by a blocked heat exchanger in the furnace.

Lisa Woods cautions homeowners to be aware of all the sources of carbon monoxide in your home. "If you don't have a working carbon monoxide detector you're not going to know that's happening. It's odourless, tasteless - without a detector you're not going to know it's in your home and unfortunately you could have a tragedy."

Share

More from Local News

Comments

Add a comment

Log in to the club or enter your details below.
Rating *

Weather

Recently Played

© Copyright 2026 104.7 Heart FM (CIHR-FM) is owned and operated by Byrnes Communications Inc.. Powered by Aiir.