Carbon Monoxide: Frequently asked questions

What is carbon monoxide and why is it a problem?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is odorless, colorless, tasteless and very toxic gas. It is poisonous. If you breathe it in, CO prevents your blood from absorbing life-sustaining oxygen. If the level of CO builds up in your blood, you will eventually lose consciousness and could die.

While everyone in your home is at risk, unborn babies, infants, seniors, pets and people with coronary or respiratory problems are more susceptible.

Where does carbon monoxide come from?
CO is a byproduct of the incomplete burning of fuels, including wood, heating oil, propane, kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, coal, charcoal, and natural gas. All fuel-burning equipment and appliances are potential sources for carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide hazards can result from:

• Deteriorating equipment: natural gas heating systems and appliances that are not properly maintained.
• Confining or enclosing gas-fired equipment: An inadequate fresh air supply for the safe burning and venting of exhausts: for example, renovating and enclosing a furnace room.
• Dirt and blockage: for example, a blocked chimney or flue.
• Careless use of equipment: for example, running a vehicle engine in an attached garage.
• Using equipment which consumes or exhausts household air: for example, an open fireplace with a
  roaring fire may use up five or ten times as much air as your furnace.

How do I safeguard my home?

When properly installed and maintained, your natural gas furnace and water heater do not pollute your air space with carbon monoxide. But correct operation of natural gas, or indeed any fuel-burning heating equipment requires two key conditions:

• Regular maintenance of fuel-burning equipment
• an adequate supply of air for complete combustion and venting of the products of combustion from the furnace through the chimney to the outside must be effective.

The Carbon Monoxide Safety Association, recommends annual inspection and maintenance of all natural gas heating equipment, appliances, venting systems and chimneys by a qualified technician.

Between annual chimney inspections, make sure that the chimney, flue and external openings of all exhaust vents are not blocked by insulation, leaves, birds' nest or other debris.

Maintain good air supply and ventilation for your fuel-burning equipment.

Never run a power lawnmower, snow blower or vehicle engine inside your home or garage.

Never use a charcoal or gas barbecue inside your home.

If you have a gas water heater, make sure that combustion air openings at the bottom of the tank and the opening below the draft diverter (on top of the tank next to the flue duct) remain unblocked.

Install a carbon monoxide detector as a second line of defense. Ensure that it is properly located, installed, tested, and maintained. Remember: a smoke detector won't detect carbon monoxide.

If you've renovated or partitioned off your furnace and water heater, you may need additional ventilation. Suggestion: Add louvers to the top and bottom of the furnace room door.

If you have a gas clothes dryer, be sure the exhaust duct is vented to the outside and has a hood at the outlet. Check that the exhaust system is not blocked by lint or debris and that the flapper in the hood moves freely.

When your fireplace, coal or wood stove is operating, open a window and close off warm air registers in the room, or install a fresh air duct directly to the fireplace or stove so that it won't steal air from your furnace.

Run exhaust fans for just a minute or two at a time — prolonged use could remove too much air and also wastes heat.

What are the danger signs of carbon monoxide?
Be alert to these signs:

• Stale, stuffy air in your home.
• You and/or other household members have the symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide.
• The pilot light of your furnace or other gas-fired equipment keeps going out. You notice a sharp odor or the smell of natural gas occurs when your furnace or other equipment turns on.
• The burner flames and pilot light of a natural gas furnace or other equipment are mostly yellow, rather than a clear blue. (Please note: some natural gas fireplaces are designed to have yellow flames.)
• Chalky, white powder forms on a chimney or exhaust vent pipe or soot builds up around the exhaust vent.
• Excessive moisture on walls or windows in areas where natural gas equipment is on.
• The alarm of your carbon monoxide detector sounds.

What are the symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide?
Exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) can cause flu-like symptoms without a fever, including:

• headaches
• nausea
• dizziness
• drowsiness or fatigue
• burning eyes
• confusion
• loss of coordination

If you or other occupants experience these symptoms inside your home, but feel better when you go outdoors or away from home, carbon monoxide or other pollutants in your home may be the cause.

For additional information on carbon monoxide: Please read the publication at the Technical Standards & Safety Authority: Carbon Monoxide Safety Association website. Click here.