Carbon monoxide poisoning caused 49 deaths and 287 people were treated in emergency rooms nationwide last year. State officials are telling Missourians to have their furnaces and ventilation systems inspected.

A local chimney sweeper is busy this time of year inspecting chimneys for safety problems that can also cause fires and carbon monoxide leaks.

"They should definitely have their entire system looked at each year just in case something has changed during the summer; birds or squirrels or anything making nesting materials. That's actually a major problem we've seen here in rural Missouri," said Cedar Deraps, a certified chimney sweep.

Animals nesting in a chimney can cause carbon monoxide problems because it creates clearance problems. Animals nesting in the chimney is not the only danger though.

"We look to make sure that there's not a large amount of creosote build-up and if there is we sweep that up because that can lead to flu fires," Deraps said.

Deraps' company of certified inspectors always look for clearance problems to combustibles, and they also inspect the general construction of the chimney and the chimney type.

Different chimney types have different problems. Chimneys are not the only thing Deraps says people should have inspected for safety problems. He suggests having venting systems for hot water heaters and furnaces looked at also.

"If you have any gas appliances in your home to go ahead and buy a carbon monoxide detector," Deraps said.

Columbia has an agency that evaluates the work of companies like Deraps' to make sure that workers follow codes and regulations. Deraps says its a good idea to make sure you hire people certified by the National Chimney Guild because not every town has an agency like Columbia to make sure good work is being done.