WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) — Wisconsin Public Service is asking residents to go clear out the snow from around their furnace vents and gas meters.
Spokesperson Lisa Prunty says you need to keep the vents for your furnace, your fireplace and your dryer all clear of obstructions. “If those get blocked, they could cause an issue with carbon monoxide levels in the home which can be deadly and dangerous.” You should also be checking the inside of your dryer vent as well to make sure there isn’t any lint build up which could spark a nasty fire.
You also need to keep the area around your gas meter clear. Prunty says you should be doing that by hand and definitely not with a snow blower. “You want to go out with a broom or some type of brush and brush it off, and shovel gently around that area so that you’re not hitting that meter.” Not only will that make it easier for workers to come out and check the meter, but it will also keep it from malfunctioning if the vents on the meter get blocked with snow.
This is also a good time to make sure the carbon monoxide detectors in your house are working. Prunty says you should have one in every floor of your house just like smoke detectors and that they can and do save lives.
