Carbon Monoxide Alarms FAQ's


Questions About CO

1. What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas. It is a common by-product of incomplete combustion, produced when fossil fuels like wood, coal, gasolin, kerosene, natural gas or oil burn.


2. Where does Carbon Monoxide come from?
Carbon Monoxide can be produced by gas or oil appliances like a furnace, clothes dryer, range, oven, water heater, or space heater. When appliances and vents work properly, and there is enough fresh air in your home to allow complete combustion, the trace amounts of CO produced are typically not dangerous.

These conditions can cause CO levels to rise quickly:

  • Appliance malfunction, i.e. the heat exchanger on your furnace cracks
  • Vent, flue, or chimney is blocked by debris or even snow
  • Fireplace, wood burning stove or charcoal grill is not properly vented
  • Vehicle is left running in an attached garage and CO seeps into the house
  • Several appliances are running at the same time, competing for limited fresh air. This can cause incomplete combustion and produce CO, even if all appliances are in good working condition


3. Why is Carbon Monoxide dangerous?
Because CO robs your blood of oxygen. When you inhale carbon monoxide, it bonds with the haemoglobin in your blood, displacing life-giving oxygen. This produces a toxic compound in your blood called "Carboxyhemoglobin" (COHb). Over time, exposure to CO can make you sick. Victims exposed to enough carbon monoxide can suffer brain damage, or even die. Since you can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide, it can make you sick before you even know it's there.

4. What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning?
Mild exposure: Slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, flu-like symptoms Medium exposure: Throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate. Extreme exposure: Convulsions, unconsciousness, heart and lung failure. Exposure can lead to brain damage and death.


5. Is Carbon Monoxide lighter than air?
Carbon monoxide weighs about the same as air and distributes evenly throughout the room and house. When installing a CO alarm, choose a location where the alarm will stay clean, and out of the way of children or pets. See User's Manual for specific installation requirements.


6. What level of CO will hurt me or my family?
This is different for each person. Since it is a poison, it affects everyone at different levels. Age, size, and health are other factors that can determine the effect CO has on them. You should contact your own physician for advice regarding this question. Everyone is at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning, but some people are more vulnerable. Unborn babies, infants, children, seniors, and people with heart or lung problems are at higher risk from CO poisoning.


7. What does "Move to Fresh Air" mean?
The "Move to Fresh Air" mean printed on the face of newer CO alarms is a reminder to move all family members to an area with fresh air if the alarm sounds. You should not unplug or move the CO alarm itself.



8. What should I do when the CO alarm sounds?
Silence the alarm. Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911. Move everyone immediately to fresh air-outdoors or by an open door or window. Do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. Do not re-enter the premises or move away from the open door or window until the emergency services responder has arrived, the premises have been aired out, and your CO alarm remains in its normal condition.