CroppMetcalfe Highlights Importance of CO Detectors after Grave Service Call
HVAC contractor found a family in potentially life threatening danger while conducting routine service
FAIRFAX, Va. — On Jan. 12, 2016, Paul McElwee, a CroppMetcalfe HVAC technician, visited a home in Maryland. The family scheduled an appointment after they noticed their furnace not producing any heat. Shortly after entering the home, McElwee identified the problem as a cracked heat exchanger. The cracked heat exchanger was leaking dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) into the home, at 2,000 parts per million in the flue. Anything over 100 parts per million in the flue (and 8 parts per million anywhere else in the house) is considered dangerous and is cause to shut down the system and evacuate the house. There were no CO detectors found in the house to help detect such a dangerous situation.
A young child living in the home had been sick for weeks, with doctors unable to identify the source of his nausea and headaches. Once McElwee found the CO problem, he recommended the family take the boy to a hospital to be tested for CO poisoning.