8 people discharged from hospital after carbon monoxide leak at Winnipeg home

Eight people have been discharged from hospital following a carbon monoxide exposure in their home. Michelle Gerwing has more on how to keep your home safe.

Eight people who were admitted to hospital after a carbon monoxide leak at a North Kildonan home have been discharged – an incident that prompted a reminder to homeowners to check their furnaces.

Winnipeg emergency crews were called to a home on Sharron Bay for a medical call Tuesday morning. Alarms worn by responders registered carbon monoxide readings at the North Kildonan home of 300 parts per million (PPM) – a reading Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Deputy Chief Scott Wilkinson classified as ‘a serious level of exposure.’

Eight people were admitted to hospital that day.

Shared Health confirmed Wednesday they have all been released.

Manitoba Hydro said the vent connector from the furnace to the chimney was significantly corroded, allowing the flue gases into the home. They also found the furnace produced more carbon monoxide than normal.

The home will have to have its furnace repaired and inspected before it can be turned on again, the Crown corporation said.

‘You’re running the risk’

The incident prompted reminders from HVAC technicians for homeowners to check their furnaces to see if maintenance is needed.

“You’re running the risk if you haven’t had your furnace checked,” said Mark Boissoneault, owner of Tradesman Mechanical Services.

“As it gets older, things wear out. It’s not going to stay tuned up forever.”

Boissoneault said heat and humidity are the primary causes of furnace pipes wearing out - something he sees a lot responding to service calls in Winnipeg.

“We run across them all the time, almost every week,” he said.

There is no word if the home where Tuesday’s incident happened had a carbon monoxide detector, but experts say having one in your home is good for safety. Boissoneault has been handing out free detectors on furnace calls for the past few weeks.

“It’s not that you’re not going to be able to get insurance if you don’t have them, but we definitely highly recommend that as a safety precaution,” said Brett McGregor, president-elect of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.

McGregor said insurance policies generally don’t require regular maintenance as well, but notes when your furnace turns 40, there will be more interest in its upkeep, and it could impact your premiums.

“Has it been inspected lately? What is the maintenance plan that’s in place for it?” he said. “On an older furnace, there can be some insurance implications.”

-With files from CTV’s Michelle Gerwing