Snow Dangers And Carbon Monoxide from Simone of Abundant Home Inspection Services

Snow storms not only make driving conditions dangerous, but can present a danger to you and your family inside your home. Drifting snow can partially block chimneys, flues and vents, including the air intake/exhaust system of your furnace, boilers and water heaters.

If this happens, these fuel burning appliances can malfunction and allow Carbon Monoxide levels to increase to dangerous, and sometimes fatal levels inside your home.

If you suspect a blockage or another malfunction

1. DO NOT turn on Exhaust or Vent Fans because they remove the air (and oxygen) allowing Carbon Monoxide to build to higher levels.

2. DO open WINDOWS and DOORS to get as much fresh air into the house as possible.

Perform a visual inspection as soon as possible after a heavy snowfall to determine if winds have caused snow near the exhaust vent pipes and/or chimney. If you can, brush snow away from the vents and/or chimney. If you cannot clear the obstruction, don't wait for the snow to melt call your local fire department for assistance.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by all fuel burning appliance, including wood burning stove and fireplaces (gas, oil, wood).

During normal combustion, atoms of carbon in the burning fuel joins with two atoms of oxygen, forming a harmless gas called carbon dioxide. When there is a lack of oxygen the carbon links with only one atom of oxygen, forming carbon monoxide.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Carbon Monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. 1,500 people die annually due to accidental carbon monoxide exposure, and additional 10,000 seek medical attention.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING:  

It's important to realize that the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flu symptoms.  Below are a list of symptoms associated with carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Burning eyes
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

Keep in mind that in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, several or all of the residents of a home may start experiencing the symptoms around the same time. Also note that the symptoms may disappear when people leave the affected area and breath fresh air again.

 We highly recommend you install carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home and if you have force air heating, in every bedroom.

If your Carbon Monoxide monitor sounds an alarm, open your windows and leave the house. If you are feeling drowsy or dizzy, call 911 from your neighbor's home. You may need medical attention for Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Question:  To Tony, from our conversation while taking our walk on Sunday.  What is a brick veneer?
Answer: When the siding to a house is a single layer of brick over the exterior wood sheathing (frame).

Brick is also used as a solid masonry wall which is a structural component of the house. One way to tell if a wall is brick veneer of solid masonry is the pattern of the bricks above the windows and doors. A brick veneer will carry the same pattern over all windows and doors. Structural brick will change patterns above windows and doors to provide for masonry arches or headers. Masonry arches and headers help distribute the weight through to the foundation around openings in the walls.

Another way to tell if the house is brick veneer is the presence of weep holes (small holes that prevent moisture from building up behind the veneer, to protect the wood frame). Weep holes are found near the bottom of the veneer and are spaced about 32-33 inches apart. As part of normal building maintenance it’s important to keep them free of obstructions.

While working as a Public Insurance Adjuster I would often get phone calls from young single mothers hoping I could help them get money for repairs to their homes.  Unfortunately, when I would arrive I would find that they were improperly insured but most often the damages they had weren't insurable damages but major defects to the property.  What made this even worse is these young mothers usually had just purchased their homes within the past year or two through some kind of "First Time Homeowners" program, and those that did get inspections, the inspection was performed by a contractor friend of the seller who usually was an investor flipping the property.

I visited one house and from the dining room could see that the kitchen floor had a major slope towards the outside of the house.  The homeowner told me she doesn't go in the kitchen because it felt like it was about to fall off the rest of the house.  Another house had one strip of paneling on the wall, not one wall with paneling, just one strip of paneling.  When I looked behind the panel I could see straight outside.  Then there was the house I visited one August, it hadn't rained for days.  The minute I walked into the house I could smell the mold.  When I went into the basement the walls were soaked, the floors were damp, the joist and subfloors were wet, we could barely breathe while down there and she had an elementary school aged son.  This house had electrical issues and her porch roof was beginning to collapse from wood rot. (which is why she called me)  I gave her some suggestions but couldn't really help her.  She had only been in the house for 6 months.  With tears in her eyes she says "I hate this house". 

Oh boy,  I wished I was Oprah and could knock the house down and just build her a new one.  But, I'm not Oprah and can't buy people new homes.  So becoming a Home Inspector was the next best thing.

Jackie Cooper is a Realtor at Long and Foster Realty Inc. in Narberth, PA. She has designed an innovative marketing program to help clients with the complex and tedious job of real estate transactions. Jackie provides a free market analysis and follows through until each and every client is satisfied. Her enthusiasm is contagious -AND- if necessary, she can be very aggressive.  Her main focus is innovative marketing and making each client feel as if they are her one and only. She has lived in the area for 29 years and has been an active participant in the community both professionally and through her volunteer work. For her expertise, Ask Jackie right here, right now at "Ask The Realtor".  If you are looking for a new home or selling your present home call Jackie at the office 610-664-2500 or on her cell phone 610-613-8579.

Thank you for visiting my blog. The purpose of this blog is to provide a forum to share housing related information, ask questions and be a single point of contact for Abundant's clients and colleagues.