Carbon Monoxide Disaster Waiting to Happen…

One of our Homewatch clients has been abroad for several months, and during a recent inspection I noticed their furnace wasn’t working. The homeowners asked if I could coordinate a visit with their HVAC company—happy to help.

The technician arrived, repaired a faulty igniter, and restarted the furnace… only to immediately shut it back off. Then came the dreaded “Can you come take a look at this?” moment—similar to when your mechanic calls you under the car lift. Never a good sign.

The vent pipe from the natural gas furnace had deteriorated and separated at the chimney connection, creating a serious potential carbon monoxide hazard. Thankfully, it was discovered before becoming a tragedy. What should have been a simple one-hour service call turned into three hours while replacement materials were sourced and repairs completed.

Yes, the home had CO detectors. Yes, there was enough draft to carry most gases away. But what if there hadn’t been? What if the detectors failed? Sometimes disasters happen when multiple small issues line up at once.

This is exactly why regular Homewatch visits matter. Problems are often discovered long before homeowners return—and sometimes before they become dangerous.

The homeowner was extremely appreciative, and most importantly, everyone stayed safe.

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