Nothing Cool Rhymes With Carbon Monoxide

When attempting to come up with something that's readable, it helps to rhyme, or have some pithy phrase. BTW, who invented the word "pithy" anyway? It's an awkward word. 

Flue isn't even above the water heater exhaust

Carbon Monoxide: Not Good 


I've run into a few good Carbon Monoxide (CO) stories lately. Some schmuck lawyer landlord thinks that because his property's CO reading wasn't zero, it must be OK. The dude may sue me for having a problem with a continuous inflow of poison gas into his apartment - who knows. In any case, pretty sure here that Carbon Monoxide ain't cool. I'll trade threats of lawsuit for those girl's lives. The girls win, lawyer man. 


Interesting Words

See how the flue attachments show an air gap at the wall?

But I've run into a plethora (now that's a good word) of other pithy CO issues recently. A home just a couple of days ago had a water heater that failed to have the flue covering the exhaust. What does that mean? It means that the CO-poisoned air now goes into the living space - not up the exhaust. 


And in Other Developments


Then there's this picture. In this shot (at right) we have a very poor seal between furnace/water heater flue and the chimney flue. Guess where that poison gas gonna go? You betcha. Right into your toddler's lungs. 

Exhaust out the flue, then back into the home via swamp cooler. Artistic.

And That's Not All


I have plenty of stories about raccoons nesting in chimneys. That's a story for another day, but this one's new: How about the chimney being blocked by pigeons? Yep! 


A realtor told me about how he popped his head up a chimney only to discover a few pigeons. Some of these pithy pigeons were live, some dead. Add the obligatory pigeon poop and eggs, and we have a pigeon omelete in the chimney. After you're done with that thought, here's the next: if the CO can't leave the living space, it stays.



The Inevitable Pithy Moral


I've been learning recently that some of the most obvious statements can be the most meaningful if you look under the hood. That said, here's an obvious statement: don't mix CO and your family. I've may have saved some folks' lives recently, and sure am grateful that they opted into choosing an inspection. For the rest of you that are not selling your home? Do me a favor and go take a look at your water heater/ furnace connections. I'll sleep better if you do.