Carbon monoxide: Preventing exposure
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Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning in your home
Follow these tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning at home.
If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds
You cannot see, smell or taste carbon monoxide. It can only be detected with a carbon monoxide alarm (also commonly known as a CO detector).
Follow these steps if your carbon monoxide alarm sounds:
- Leave your home immediately and move to fresh air.
- Do not try to locate the source of carbon monoxide.
- Once outside, call 9-1-1, your local fire department or emergency services.
- Return to your home only after the problem has been fixed by a professional.
Keep carbon monoxide out
Keep the air in indoor spaces clean and free of carbon monoxide by following these tips:
- Keep the door between your house and the garage closed.
- Do not idle vehicles in the garage, even when the garage door is open.
- Do not use a fuel burning generator indoors or in your garage or shed.
- Operate it at least 6 meters (20 feet) from any home or building.
- Invest in solar panels and solar- or battery-powered portable generators, equipment and appliances if you can.
- If you smoke, do so outdoors.
Never operate outdoor equipment that uses fuel, charcoal or wood inside a:
- home
- vehicle
- garage or shed
- camper or tent
Never run or turn on gas-powered equipment in the garage or shed. This includes:
- lawnmowers
- snowblowers
- trimmers (for example, hedge and grass trimmers)
Never use kerosene, propane or oil space heaters and lamps in enclosed areas unless they're specifically designed for indoor use.
Generator safety
Operate your generator safely by following these tips:
- Never operate it indoors.
- Operate it at least 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings and direct the exhaust away from open windows and doors.
- Close all windows and doors closest to or downwind from the generator.
- Keep people and pets away from it when it’s on.
- Make sure it automatically shuts off when carbon monoxide levels are high.
- You should still never use this type of generator indoors. It does not replace the need for carbon monoxide alarms in your home.
Regular appliance maintenance and inspections
You can help prevent carbon monoxide from being released into your home by keeping your fuel-burning appliances well-maintained. Have a professional inspect them at least once a year or in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned every year.
Regularly examine propane- and natural gas-powered appliances and outdoor fuel-burning equipment for:
- leaks
- cracks
- blocked vents
- improper installations
- poor connections of gas lines to:
- vents
- appliances
- breaks or tears in connection tubes
- corroded or disconnected venting pipes
Inspect exhaust vents during and after snowstorms to make sure they aren’t blocked with ice or covered by snow or debris. Do this for your:
- dryer
- furnace
- fireplace and chimney
- wood-burning or gas stove
- other appliances with an exhaust vent
Carbon monoxide alarms
Carbon monoxide can only be detected with a carbon monoxide alarm.
If you have or use combustion appliances and equipment in your home, you should install:
- smoke alarms
- at least 1 carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup
The most important place to install a carbon monoxide alarm is in hallways, outside of sleeping areas. It will have an audible alarm to warn you of high carbon monoxide levels in your home.
Smoke alarms alert you to fires, not carbon monoxide. You can buy a carbon monoxide alarm at any hardware or home equipment store.
Choose an alarm with a digital display that shows low carbon monoxide levels. These devices can display levels that won’t trigger the alarm, helping you to:
- identify an issue early
- protect those at greater risk of exposure to carbon monoxide
Make sure to follow the manufacturer's suggestions for:
- installation
- testing
- use
- maintenance
- replacement
Contact your local fire department if you need help or advice with your smoke alarms.
Learn about fire safety in your home
Certification marks
When buying carbon monoxide alarms at stores or online, it’s important to look for products that are certified for use in Canada.
The certification marks must be to Canadian safety standards.
Carbon monoxide alarms with a Canadian certification mark have been tested by laboratory professionals. The mark shows that the product meets the requirements of Canadian safety standards.
Certification marks must be found on the carbon monoxide alarm and product packaging.
Here are some common Canadian certification marks you may find on carbon monoxide alarms and their packaging:

Text description - CSA certification mark
Certification mark for CSA Group. The letters CSA written in the shape of a circle.

Text description - Binational CSA certification mark
Certification mark for CSA Group. The letters CSA written in the shape of a circle, with the letter C on the left and the letter US on the right.

Text description - Intertek certification mark
Certification mark for Electrical Testing Laboratories. The letters ETL in a circle that includes the word ‘listed’. Under the circle is a line and the word ‘Intertek’. The letter C is to the left of the circle.

Text description - Binational Intertek certification mark
Certification mark for Electrical Testing Laboratories. The letters ETL in a circle that includes the word ‘listed’. Under the circle is a line and the word ‘Intertek’. The letter C is written on the left and the letters US are on the right of the circle.

Text description - Binational UL certification mark
Certification mark for Underwriters Laboratory. A black circle with the letters UL inside and the letter C outside on the left. the word 'listed’ is below the circle.

Text description - UL certification mark
Certification mark for Underwriters Laboratory. A black circle with the letters UL inside and the letter C outside on the left. the word 'listed’ is below the circle.

Text description - CSA certification mark indicating certification to CSA 6.19
Certification mark for CSA Group. The letters CSA written in the shape of a circle below a flame. The word ‘certified’ is underneath the flame. A thin circle surrounds the mark. Below the circle are the words ‘CSA 6.19- (year date)’.
If a product is sold online, its description may also indicate if the alarm is certified to Canadian safety standards. If you’re not sure, ask the seller. Only purchase from sellers that can confirm that the product:
- is certified to Canadian safety standards and
- bears a Canadian certification mark
Online shopping: Product safety
Test carbon monoxide alarms regularly
Test your carbon monoxide alarms regularly. Replace batteries and the alarm as recommended by the manufacturer. Write on the battery or device to remind yourself when it was installed and when it should be replaced. Check the expiry date of your alarms and replace them when necessary.
Contact your local fire department for more information on the use and installation of carbon monoxide alarms in your area.
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