Temple, TX – Three members of a Temple family had even more reason to be thankful Thursday after a carbon monoxide detector alerted them to a leak in a furnace ventilation pipe.
Temple Fire & Rescue responded shortly after 5:15 a.m. Thursday and found the three residents outside of the house, thanks to the warning from the alarm, spokesman Thomas Pechal said.
Firefighters using a monitor detected increased levels of the deadly gas in the home, which they traced to the vent pipe, which had become dislodged from a natural-gas fired central furnace, Pechal said.
The family, a couple and a young child, recently moved to Temple.
Scott & White EMS paramedics evaluated them at the scene and a heating contractor was contacted to make repairs, Pechal said.
Safety Tips From Temple Fire & Rescue
Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters (catalytic) indoors. Although these heaters don’t have a flame, they burn gas and can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall.