Install & Maintain Alarms
Install the alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. This will warn you if the carbon monoxide (CO) level rises in any part of the house.
Ensure the alarms are installed properly and clear of dust and debris and have working batteries.
Make sure you have the alarm installed high up in your home. One placed near the floor will only detect the gas when it has almost completely filled the room.
Additional Tips
Additional tips to help you avoid carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- Consider having your fuel-burning appliances inspected by a trained professional before every heating season.
- Don't idle the car in the garage. Even a short period of time is enough to fill a small space with CO gas.
- Never ignore the symptoms of dizziness, nausea, headaches and sudden tiredness. If you are feeling them, you can lose consciousness and die. Get out of the house and into fresh air immediately and call 911.
- Never use a gas-powered engine or a charcoal grill indoors.