973-887-0100

The Silent Killer Hidden in the Snowdrifts: Why You Need to Check Your Vents Now

Jan 25, 2026 | Fire, News

While we focus on clearing driveways and roads during Winter Storm Fern, a quieter, invisible danger is building in many homes right now.

The Whippany Fire Department normally responds to numerous carbon monoxide (CO) alarms after large snowstorms like this. In almost every case, the cause was the same: utility vents blocked by piling or drifting snow.

How It Happens

Modern heating systems, high-efficiency furnaces, and gas dryers often vent horizontally out the side of your house rather than up a chimney. When snow covers these vents, the deadly exhaust gas has nowhere to go but back into your home.

This doesn’t always require a massive snowfall. Drifting is the real enemy. Even if the snow accumulation is only a foot deep, wind gusts can push snow against the side of your home, creating a drift that completely seals off a vent that is only 18-24 inches off the ground.

A Tragic Local Reminder

This danger is heartbreakingly real in our area. We never want to see a repeat of the tragedy in Passaic, NJ, where a young mother and her 1-year-old son lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in a car to stay warm. The tailpipe had been blocked by snow while the father was digging the vehicle out.

The same physics applies to your house. If the “tailpipe” of your home (your furnace vent) is buried, the results can be just as deadly.

What You Need to Do Immediately

Please, put on your boots and take a 5-minute walk around the perimeter of your house.

  1. Locate Your Vents: Look for white PVC pipes coming out of the foundation or siding. These are typically for your furnace, water heater, or fireplace.

  2. Clear the Area: Dig a 3-foot clearance around them. Use your hands or a broom—shovels can crack the PVC piping in the cold.

  3. Check Your Dryer Vent: Don’t forget the dryer exhaust. A blocked dryer vent is a major fire hazard and can also force CO back into the home.

  4. Test Your Alarms: This is your last line of defense. Ensure you have a working Carbon Monoxide detector on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. If you haven’t changed the batteries in 6 months, do it today.

Signs of CO Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. If you or your family members start feeling “flu-like” symptoms—headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion—get outside immediately and call 911.

Stay safe, Whippany. Keep those vents clear!