Your home has a number of exhaust vents that exit through an exterior wall, expelling air and allowing everything in your home to function properly. A quick walk around the exterior of the home will show these vents. From your home’s furnace and water heater to the dryer and other appliances, it is critical that this area is unblocked so that it can properly vent. Snow or leaves and other debris piling up against the house can affect these vents’ ability to work properly. The resulting factor can be a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide in the home.
Best practice is to regularly check the exterior of the property to make sure these important vents are kept unobstructed, particularly after a large snowfall. When the snow begins to accumulate you will want to shovel the area to make sure your exhaust vents remain clear and that the air is able to travel out of the home without impediment.
Signs that Your Home’s Exhaust Vents are Blocked
One of the first indicators that your furnace is not venting properly is an unusual odor in the home. This may be a burning smell or other unpleasant scent that is inside the home. Soot that is accumulating around your vents can also indicate a problem with your exhaust and ventilation. When left unaddressed, this can quickly lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide in the home. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly. The first signs include headache and dizziness. If family members begin experiencing these symptoms, you should leave home immediately. Having working carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home will alert you early on to a problem.
Keeping Your Exhaust Vents Clear
Being vigilant and regularly checking your outside exhaust vents for snow and debris will go a long way to making sure that the air is able to travel out of the home unobstructed. It is a good habit to regularly shovel this area when it snows, keeping the vents clear. While in many cases they are well above ground level, in years of large snowfall the snow drifts can easily accumulate to reach the vents, obstructing the airflow.
Taking the time during the winter months to make sure your exhaust vents are clear will go a long way to keeping your home and your family safe.
