Here’s a news article about Dave Sturtz’s brother Bob and his family.

ALBERT LEA, Minn. (KTTC) — Even though temperatures reached the lower 60s Monday, it’s that time of year when your heater is starting to run more often.  With that, comes a greater chance of carbon monoxide poisoning.

An Albert Lea couple had a close call on Sunday.  Bob Sturtz spent most of the week outside of his house.  On the other hand, inside, his wife Lisa Sturtz felt nauseous with a migraine that lasted almost a week.

“I don’t think we put any of it together until the carbon monoxide detector went off and then it all started to make sense,” Sturtz said.  When the carbon monoxide detector went off, levels were at 36 parts per million, that’s when the odorless, colorless, gas, becomes toxic.

Owner of Jim and Dude’s Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, Dennis Bergstrom, replaced the couple’s furnace on Monday.  “All six points of contact on the manifold gave loose and opened up,” Bergstrom said.  That allowed the carbon monoxide to travel throughout the house.

“It’s prime season as houses start getting shut up full time now that any problems start showing up that may not have shown up in the last 6 to 8 months,” Bergstrom said.

Besides checking the batteries on your detector twice a year (during daylight savings time), Bergstrom says a detector should be placed on each floor of the house.

It’s information most of us already know but may forget to do ourselves.

“Lot of people know but until it happens to you…,” Bob said.

Lisa went on to say, “There was no indication that it [the furnace] wasn’t functioning properly. We would have never known… until it was too late.”

Bob and Lisa stayed with Bob’s dad Sunday night.