Brookfield Wannabe
Roxanne Suson, a Brookfield native and graduate of Brookfield East High School, provides readers with an eclectic mix of topics. Once a trial attorney, now a full-time mom, Roxanne blogs about the happiness, sadness, and absurdity of life and family in the suburbs.
Digging Out: A Practical Tip
By Roxanne Suson
Friday, Mar 2 2007, 10:16 AM
If the "snow mountain" at the top of my driveway is any indication, this is the most snow that we've had in a relatively short period in some time. Although the kids in my neighborhood are loving it, the adults have a different view as they break out the shovels yet again. As you are digging out your sidewalks and driveways, remember to check around the side of your house and take a look at your furnace vent pipes.
I have to confess that I didn't think about these pipes until I saw a spot on the news the other day.
According to the news report, you should keep the area around the opening of the pipes free from snow.
Remove any snow that you can see that may have entered the front part of the pipes.
However, do not go so far as to disassemble the pipes. That should only be done by a professional. If the snow enters the pipe deep enough, the snow could cause your furnace to stop functioning and could cause carbon monoxide gas to be released into the home.
Remember too that even after the snow is done coming down, blowing snow can cause drifts to build up in front of the pipes. With the winds that we've been experiencing, it would be a good idea to periodically check the pipes.
