Water heaters replaced after CO deaths

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) - Potentially life saving changes are underway in the Portsmouth apartment complex where two people died  from carbon monoxide poisoning. Crews are now installing new hot water heaters at Swanson Homes to try and eradicate the deadly gas.

This action has been taken by the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority after a resident found Inez and Leroy Stith dead in their apartment  in June.

"I was one of the first 42 that the houses had gotten discovered that I had real high levels of carbon monoxide in it," says Jacynthia Hunter-Gaye.

Hunter-Gaye lives in one of 54 Swanson Homes apartments with a new hot water heater replaced since June. She says it's just one of many safety improvements since her neighbors died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

"I got a new stove, a new hot water heater, and they vented the house," Hunter-Gaye said.
   
The Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority owns the property and says more apartments are slated for the upgrade. Deputy Executive Director Kathy Warren told WAVY.com  "...in a effort to replace the 110 remaining as quickly as possible, we hired Home Depot because they can do the work faster."

"As of right now, our unit, my whole unit, everybody in our unit, we haven't gotten anything," says Brenda Walton who lives at Swanson Homes.

Walton is frustrated with waiting. She says she is frightened of the poisonous gas.

"We haven't got a new stove, we haven't got a new hot water tank or nothing and I've already had carbon monoxide in mine twice," Walton said.

Walton is skeptical of the project.

"I believe by them doing what they're doing the carbon monoxide is still going to be here," Walton said.

Warren says there's no need to worry.

"We're continuing to test with environmental experts the air quality in each home and we will continue to do so on a regular basis. They are also checking the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are operating properly," Warren said.
   
Meanwhile, Hunter-Gaye says she is sad that tragedy had to spark this change, but she has learned from it.

"Now I pay more attention to what's going on as far as the alarms or the stoves or anything like that," Hunter-Gaye said.

Warren says 164 of the 210 Swanson Homes apartments are slated for the upgrades. All of those units have water heaters that were installed in the 1993 to 1994 timeframe, the same model that was in the Stith's unit. Warren also says the one million dollar project price tag includes piping replacement and the hot water heaters, which also provide heat to the homes.

Warren says the Redevelopment and Housing Authority has had seven meetings with residents so far, and plans to schedule another next week.

As soon as WAVY.com gets that date, we will post it on our website.