CO Stories

Midwest Chimney Safety Council

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GOOD NEWS
As of Jan 1, 2009 75% or higher efficiency wood stoves and inserts qualify for a $300.00-$1500
tax credit to consumers.

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President:
Janie Rickord
Alpine Chimney Services

Vice President:
Marge Padgitt

Secretary/Treasurer:
Sally Scott

CO Stories

Story #1:

This is a true story...

In the fall of 1994 I went to a customer's house to unclog her chimney because the furnace technician said it was not venting properly, and he had to shut down her furnace and hot water heater. Upon checking the flue, I found over 6 feet of solid debris with birds nests, dead animals, and deteriorated bricks and mortar that had fallen in the flue. We had to break into the back of the chimney in order to remove the debris it was so bad. The chimney had not possibly been venting for many years, and Carbon Monoxide was backing up into the home.

The homeowner said that she and her daughter had been ill for almost 10 years with flu-like symptoms that went away when they left the house. They knew it was their house, and had the home tested for radon and mold, had the ducts cleaned, and went to several doctors (none of which did a CO test).. I suggested that they go get tested for CO poisoning -and sure enough, the Dr. said they had been poisoned for years, and that if they did not have a leaky house they would be dead.

The lady and her daughter thanked us for possibly saving their lives. The simple installation of a chimney cover would have prevented this problem in the first place.

Gene Padgitt
Chimney Sweep
Independence, MO

Story #2:

In the fall of 2000, I repaired eight chimneys in a large 3-story home in Kansas City, Missouri. The home has a huge glass atrium in the center that slides open, but when closed is not air-tight. After the chimney repairs were made, we did a house pressure test and CO testing of all of the 8 gas log appliances, and found that none of them were venting properly. The chimneys were designed properly, but there was a negative air pressure problem with the house due to the atrium and the size and design of the home. After $30,000 in chimney repairs, the homeowner could not use his chimneys because of this problem. Many homes have a similar problem but can be corrected more easily than a home of this size (7500 sq. feet) by adding an outside air source to the return air duct of the furnace (this must be done by a professional).

Gene Padgitt
Padgitt Chimney Services
Independence, MO