Greensboro, NC - It’s not every day that an HVAC and fuel delivery company is credited with saving someone’s life, but that’s exactly what happened in October 2023, according to 84-year-old Axton, VA resident Lily Chatham.
As she tells it, Mrs. Chatham had been experiencing breathing problems ever since “the second to last Tuesday in September.” These problems included frequent shortness of breath, dizziness, and exhaustion. She and her husband Carl Chatham, occasionally noticed an odd odor in their home but attributed it to the age of their log home, built in 1816 and its rural location, where animals sometimes roam underneath homes and create all manner of foul odor. It wasn’t until they grew "fed up with being ripped off" by their existing propane supplier that she decided to call Berico, which she credits with saving her life.
When Berico Propane technician Dennis Walker arrived, he immediately sensed something was wrong. "Oh my goodness! You have a propane leak," Walker said according to Chatham. He then went outside, crawled under the antebellum home, and discovered the issue: the supply line had worn a hole from being in contact with the ground, leaking propane into the house for weeks.
After fixing the leak and installing a Berico tank, Chatham’s health problems disappeared. “They saved my life!” Chatham said enthusiastically. She is convinced that continued propane exposure would have been fatal. She could be right.
Propane vapor isn't toxic but can be dangerous when inhaled in high concentrations, as it displaces oxygen in the lungs, leading to difficulty breathing or even suffocation. Exposure to high levels of propane can also cause cardiac arrest, unconsciousness, or seizures. (If significant propane inhalation is suspected, call 911 immediately.)
A more typical home heating hazard is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Over 2,000 deaths and more than 100,000 emergency room visits in the U.S. each year are attributed to CO poisoning, according to the CDC. This is one of the reasons Berico advocates for HVAC safety inspections and recommends at least one safety inspection per household per year. Maintenance customers of Berico receive two safety inspections annually.
But technician Walker was more concerned about something else at the Chatham’s historic home: an explosion. When Walker opened the door to the area beneath the house he said it was clear the entire crawl space had filled with propane. “The odor hit me in the face,” he said. Although propane explosions are less common than Natural Gas explosions, they do occur. Had something ignited the leaked propane, the results could have been catastrophic. “It would have leveled that house,” Walker explained.
Berico President Will Berry said of the Chatham incident, “I’m so thankful the Chathams gave Berico a chance to earn their business and Dennis, a very trusted employee, was able to diagnose and solve the Chathams’ problem before their health got worse.”
A very grateful and healthy Mrs. Chatham had one more message for media companies, “Get this story out there. It might save someone else’s life!”
About Berico: Founded in 1924, Berico is a family-owned and operated HVAC and fuel delivery company with locations in Greensboro, Eden, and Burlington. With a century of experience, Berico has established itself as a trusted provider in the community. Berico specializes in a wide range of services, including AC repair, furnace installation, and general HVAC services.
In addition to heating and air conditioning services, Berico offers home heating fuel delivery, including propane, ensuring that residents stay warm and comfortable throughout the year. Berico is also proud to operate Gateco Oil Co., its commercial division, which supplies heating oil, kerosene, gasoline, and diesel fuel to commercial customers.
Berico prides itself on being a propane supplier that prioritizes communication, ensuring customers receive prompt, reliable service and support. With a commitment to safety and customer satisfaction, Berico continues to be a leader in the HVAC and fuel delivery industry.
Email: will.berry@berico.com
Media Contact
Name
Berico
Contact name
Will Berry
Contact phone
336 273 8663
Contact address
2200 E Bessemer Ave
City
Greensboro
State
NC
Zip
27405
Country
United States
Url
https://berico.com/
