Home > Resource Centre > Safety & Sound Advice > Carbon Monoxide Safety

Here’s safety information about carbon monoxide that can help you protect your family and your home. Either scroll through this section or use the links below to move to the information you are most interested in.

Understanding Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide Danger Signs
How to Recognize Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
What to Do if You Suspect Carbon Monoxide in Your Home
Installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reducing the Risk of Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

Understanding Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, tasteless gas which, when inhaled, interferes with the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. It is extremely toxic in high concentrations and can kill in just minutes or a few hours.

Carbon monoxide can be produced by the incomplete combustion (burning) of various fuels such as wood, oil, coal, charcoal, natural gas, gasoline, kerosene, or diesel fuel. You can prevent the release of carbon monoxide by ensuring that your natural gas appliances are properly installed, vented, and maintained.

Carbon Monoxide Danger Signs

• You notice a sharp, penetrating odour or smell gas when your furnace or fuel-burning appliance turns on.
  
  
• The air feels stale or stuffy.
  
  
• The pilot light of your gas furnace or other fuel-burning appliance goes out.
  
  
• Chalky, white powder forms on the chimney/exhaust vent pipe or soot builds up around the exhaust vent.
  
  
• Excessive moisture forms on windows and walls.

How to Recognize Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide symptoms can be confused with the flu, so it can be hard to detect carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms can include:

• Mild exposure – slight headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
  
  
• Moderate exposure – headaches, dizziness, weakness, vision and hearing impairment, fainting, and loss of muscle control.
  
  
• Severe exposure – unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure, coma, brain damage, and death.

What to Do if You Suspect Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

If your carbon monoxide detector goes off or if someone in your house has symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone out of the house immediately, call 911 and ask for the fire department.

If there are no medical symptoms, and your alarm has not gone off, but you suspect that carbon monoxide may be coming from one of your natural gas appliances, DO NOT open your windows. Get everyone out of the house immediately. Call Kitchener Utilities at (519) 741-2541 for an immediate inspection.

Installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector

A carbon monoxide detector is a good investment that can protect your family. Most detectors are easy to install and include instructions about where they should be installed. Any of these types of carbon monoxide detectors are acceptable provided the unit is approved (CSA, ULC, UL, etc.).

There are three basic types of carbon monoxide detectors:

• Battery-powered unit that may be connected in series
  
  
• 110-120 volt hard-wired style that may be connected in series
  
  
• Plug-in type that can be plugged into a 110-120 volt outlet.

Carbon monoxide detectors can be placed anywhere in your home except close to a furnace, fireplace, or other heating appliance. You can place your detector anywhere on the wall or ceiling because carbon monoxide has the same “specific gravity” as air.

There are requirements in the Ontario Building Code that require a carbon monoxide detector with all new construction where a solid fuel appliance (i.e., wood burning fireplace) is installed. Please contact one of the City’s building permit administrators at (519) 741-2433 for more information.

Reducing the Risk of Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

• Have a qualified service technician inspect all fuel-burning equipment yearly to ensure it is operating at peak efficiency (whatever the energy source). To book a service appointment, please contact us.
  
  
• If you have a radiant heating system (boiler) fueled by natural gas, be sure to have it inspected and cleaned annually. These units can produce substantial amounts of carbon monoxide if a boiler flue passage gets blocked, creating significant health risks.
  
  
• Have a certified chimney contractor inspect your masonry chimney yearly for moisture stains, cracks, white chalky deposits, or loose mortar.
  
  
• Natural gas equipment needs air and to be kept clean. To operate safely, keep the area around the equipment clear. Also, consult a qualified heating contractor before making any changes to enclose or partition off your natural gas equipment.
  
  
• Keep snow and ice clear from your outside furnace vents.
  
  
• Only buy equipment that bears the seal of testing agencies such as the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). They are your assurance that the equipment complies with national safety standards.
  
  
• Use a licensed gas fitter to install all equipment.
  
  
• If you would like your new natural gas equipment installation inspected by Kitchener Utilities, call our Gas Service Department at (519) 741-2529 to arrange for an inspection.