Elderly Couple Found Deceased After Fatal CO Levels Were Found In A Home
Merrillville Police & Fire were dispatched to a home in the 7200 block of E. 83rd Sunday for two unresponsive adults found.
A family member called it in around 9:49 AM and on arrival firefighters confirmed two elderly people were deceased. “It appears that the boiler flue was clogged with birds nests causing CO to fill the home at fatal levels,” Merrillville Fire Chief Ed Yerga stated. No CO detectors were observed in the home.
The identity of the two adults was not released as of Sunday afternoon. Check back to this post for further updates.
It is best to have your furnace inspected by a professional at least once a year before the start of heating season, but there are some things you can do yourself to ensure your furnace is running optimally and ready for use while you wait for a professional tune-up:
Change the furnace filter. It should be changed at least once every three months, more often if it gets dirty quickly. Check it after every 30 days of operation to see if it needs to be replaced. Also, if you have a flat filter, consider upgrading to a pleated filter, HEPA filter, or electrostatic filter, which will increase the energy efficiency of your furnace and improve air flow.
Clean your air vents and ducts by removing the covers and using the extension hose of your vacuum to remove any accumulated dust or debris.
Test the thermostat by switching it from cooling to heating and make sure it is working properly. Consider replacing an older thermostat with a new set-back thermostat that will save energy and money.
To minimize the risk of fire hazards, remove any items that are stored within three feet of your furnace or that are sitting on top of or in front of your air ducts and return vents.
Make sure that registers throughout the house are in the open position, even in unused rooms. This will ensure optimal efficiency for your heating system.
Make sure you have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors installed and operating.
