Winter Storm Safety: Why Clearing Your Vents is a Life-Saver in Bergen County

With tonight's snow storm barreling toward North Jersey, most Bergen County homeowners are stocking up on bread, milk, and rock salt. But here's the thing, there's one critical safety step that often gets overlooked, and it could literally save your family's life.

We're talking about clearing snow from your vents.

It might sound simple, but when heavy snow piles up against your home, it can block the exhaust vents for your furnace, water heater, and dryer. When that happens, dangerous carbon monoxide gas has nowhere to go except back inside your house.

At Gilligan's Power Washing, we've been serving Bergen County families for years, and we've seen firsthand how quickly winter weather can create hazards around your home. So before you hunker down with your cocoa and blankets tonight, let's walk through everything you need to know to keep your household safe.

The Silent Danger: Carbon Monoxide and Blocked Vents

Here's what makes carbon monoxide (CO) so terrifying: you can't see it, smell it, or taste it. It's completely invisible, which means by the time you realize something's wrong, you could already be in serious trouble.

When your furnace or water heater runs, it produces exhaust gases that need to escape through vents on the outside of your home. Same goes for your dryer. These vents are usually located close to ground level or along your foundation, right in the path of accumulating snow.

When snow and ice block these vents, the carbon monoxide has nowhere to go. Instead of venting safely outside, it seeps back into your living space. And because you can't detect it without a working CO detector, families can be exposed for hours without realizing it.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Weakness or fatigue

• Nausea or vomiting

• Confusion

• Chest pain

If multiple family members start feeling these symptoms at the same time, especially during a storm when your heating system is working overtime, get everyone outside immediately and call 911.

Which Vents Should You Check?

Before the snow really starts piling up tonight, take a quick walk around your Bergen County home and locate these critical vents:

✅ Furnace exhaust vent – Usually a white PVC pipe coming out of your foundation or exterior wall

✅ Water heater vent – Similar to the furnace vent, often located nearby

✅ Dryer vent – Typically a louvered cover on an exterior wall, usually near your laundry area

✅ High-efficiency appliance vents – Newer homes may have multiple intake and exhaust vents for high-efficiency systems

✅ Gas meter and pipes – While not a vent, your gas meter needs to stay clear and accessible

Pro tip from the Gilligan's crew: Take a photo of where each vent is located before the storm hits. That way, you'll know exactly where to dig out tomorrow morning, even if everything is covered in white.

How to Safely Clear Snow From Your Vents

Alright, the storm has passed and you've got a couple feet of snow against your house. Here's how to clear those vents without causing damage:

Use a Broom, Not a Shovel

This is huge, and it's a mistake we see all the time. Never use a metal shovel near your vents, gas meter, or exterior pipes. One wrong move and you could crack a vent pipe, damage your gas meter, or create a dangerous leak.

Instead, grab a soft-bristled broom or even just use your gloved hands to gently brush away the snow. It takes a little more time, but it's the safe way to do it.

Create a Clear Zone

Don't just clear the vent opening: create a buffer zone around it. Aim for at least 2-3 feet of clearance on all sides. This gives the exhaust gases room to disperse and prevents snow from immediately drifting back over the vent.

Check After Every Snowfall

During a multi-day storm or when we're getting hit with that classic North Jersey lake-effect snow, you might need to clear your vents multiple times. Make it part of your routine: every time you shovel your walkway, check your vents.

Don't Forget the Roof Vents

If you have a single-story home or accessible roof vents, keep an eye on those too. Heavy snow accumulation can block roof-mounted exhaust vents for bathrooms and kitchen fans. A roof rake can help you clear snow from the eaves without climbing up on a slippery roof.

Your CO Detectors: The Last Line of Defense

Let's be real: even the most diligent Bergen County homeowner might miss a blocked vent during a blizzard. That's why working carbon monoxide detectors are absolutely essential.

Quick CO detector checklist:

✅ You should have a CO detector on every level of your home

✅ Test the batteries right now (seriously, go do it)

✅ Replace detectors that are more than 5-7 years old

✅ Make sure they're not blocked by furniture or curtains

✅ Know what the alarm sounds like so you recognize it

If your CO detector goes off during the storm, don't assume it's a false alarm. Get everyone out of the house, call 911, and don't go back inside until emergency responders give you the all-clear.

Emergency Numbers Every Bergen County Homeowner Should Have

Save these in your phone right now:

🢂 Emergency Services: 911

🢂 New Jersey Poison Control Center: 800-222-1222

🢂 New Jersey Natural Gas Emergency: 800-221-0051

🢂 PSE&G Gas Emergency: 1-800-880-7734

If you smell gas, hear a hissing sound near a gas line, or suspect carbon monoxide exposure, don't wait. Make the call.

Prevention is the Best Protection: Keep Your Dryer Vent Clean Year-Round

Here's something a lot of homeowners don't think about until it's too late: a clogged dryer vent is a hazard in any season, not just winter.

When lint builds up inside your dryer vent over time, it restricts airflow and makes your dryer work harder. In winter, that restricted airflow combined with a snow-blocked exterior vent creates a perfect storm for carbon monoxide backup: or worse, a dryer fire.

At Gilligan's Power Washing, we offer professional dryer vent cleaning as part of our residential services. We'll clear out all that built-up lint, inspect your vent for damage, and make sure everything is flowing properly. It's one of those maintenance tasks that's easy to forget but makes a real difference for your family's safety.

Once spring rolls around and the snow melts, give us a call. We'll help you get your home's exterior cleaned up and ready for the warmer months: including making sure your vents are in good shape after the winter beating.

Stay Safe Tonight, Bergen County

Look, we know tonight's storm is going to be a hassle. You'll be shoveling, scraping ice off your car, and probably losing power at some point (because that's just how it goes in North Jersey, right?).

But take five minutes to locate your vents before the snow starts falling. Set a reminder to check them tomorrow morning. Test those CO detectors. These simple steps could genuinely save lives.

The Gilligan's Power Washing family wishes all our Bergen County neighbors a safe and warm night. We'll be back out there brightening up the neighborhood as soon as the roads are clear.

Stay warm, stay safe, and we'll see you on the other side of this storm.

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Have questions about protecting your home from winter weather damage? Need to schedule a dryer vent cleaning or exterior wash once spring arrives? Contact the Gilligan's team: we're always happy to help our North Jersey neighbors.