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CAANH has moved to
419 Whalley Avenue
New Haven CT, 06511
SAVE THE DATE!
We are having an
Open House June 14th!
We are electing new
board members at our
meeting May 21, 2012.
The public is invited to
attend at 419 Whalley with a 6pm start.
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CAA President and CEO Amos Smith spent the day with Dr. Bill Cosby and Dr. Reginald Mayo, Superintendent, New Haven Public School System www.southernct.edu/news/billcosbyvisitssc_292/
Backdraft
CAANH Staff Rescue Customers from Carbon Monoxide
By Isadora Del Vecchio
On December 19, 2011 Todd Collins, Energy Auditor in CAANH's Weatherization Department, began his first weatherization audit of the day. The audit began as they usually do, with client education. Todd talked to Regina, the home owner, about smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. At this time she explained that her basement carbon monoxide detector needed new batteries as from time-to-time it was beeping. When Todd completed the client education process he began his walk through of her home to identify sources of heat loss that might be present. When Todd began his walk-through of the basement he heard the furnace kick on and shortly after, the carbon monoxide detector began to beep.
As soon as Todd heard the beeping he went upstairs and asked Regina a few more questions. He found that all household members were showing signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. He immediately located the carbon monoxide detector upstairs and found that it was turned on, but not activated. He activated the detector and it began to beep. Upon checking the air quality upstairs with a combustible gas leak detector he found that the carbon monoxide levels were at 75 parts per million when they should have been 35-50 parts per million. They opened the windows and called the fire department.
When the fire department arrived they measured the carbon monoxide levels in the basement at 200 parts per million! They evacuated the house, shut down the furnace, and hooked up high powered fans to clear out the gas. After the house was evacuated and pressurized the family was allowed to enter the house. The gas company found that the damper to the flue pipe was clogged and that was preventing the gasses from being pulled out of the chimney and out of the house. This is called a backdraft.
Within 24 hours the gas company was able to make the needed repairs and the family was able to turn their furnace back on. Todd states that, “anyone who heats with gas, oil, wood, coal, charcoal, kerosene, or propane should have a carbon monoxide detector by every sleeping area on each floor of their home. These should be checked frequently and replaced according to the manufacturer’s suggested timeframe”. It’s important to also have all appliances installed and checked by qualified professionals. Your heating system should be inspected annually including checking chimney and flues for blockages and other issues. For more information go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html