SCHENECTADY, NY (WRGB) -A local fire department is putting out a warning about a "do-it-yourself" trick involving your dryer. Firefighters say it poses a deadly danger: carbon monoxide poisoning.

"Once you hit a certain parts per million, you could be rendered unconscious immediately."

That's why, Stanford Heights firefighter Patrick Boccio says, when they responded to a home this week where carbon monoxide levels were high enough to cause dizziness and headaches- they worked to find the source.

"He went to check the dryer and noticed this contraption off the back of the dryer,” Boccio said. “The nylon sock at the end of the pipe was stuffed with lint."

Once back at the station, Boccio says he and the other responders turned to the internet to see why a homeowner would do this.

"We researched it like we typically do after odd calls, and discovered this is becoming a growing trend on the internet for a do it yourself home heating option,” Boccio said.

The department shared photos on its Facebook page, and some people even commented on the post saying they've heard of the hack and this changed their mind about it. Boccio says websites make it look like a very easy task - one, though, that could leave you in a deadly situation.

"It's just another thing that's out of sight, out of mind - you're going to set it up, it's going to work, and you're never going to think, hey, I need to clean out all that lint,” he said. “So that's why we say stick to a professional and let them do it."



