Do the red and blue grommets on the top of your water heater show signs of melting? If so, this is one of several indicators of carbon monoxide back drafting into your home. Back drafting is the reverse flow of gas in the flues of fuel-fired appliances that results in the intrusion of combustion byproducts into the living space. When this happens, your plastic grommets tend to melt. This could have been the first time, or it could have happened several times before.
This could become a health risk, because carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, toxic gas that is a product of the combustion process. Combustion appliances such as gas furnaces and heaters can introduce dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide into the indoor air. High levels of carbon monoxide exposure can be lethal within 5 minutes. Protect your family today by installing a carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home, especially in close proximity of the bedrooms. Carbon monoxide detectors are simply installed – just plugged into outlets in the home. BR Home Inspection Services will find things like this when inspecting your home.