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Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that you cannot see, smell or taste. It is often referred to as the “silent killer.” CO is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal or wood.
A Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm will alert you when dangerous levels of CO are inside your home. A working alarm will ring loudly giving you the and your family the early warning you need to get out. CO alarms can warn you about sudden failures of fuel-burning appliances and are a good first line of defence against CO exposure.
There are different types of alarms with different features, so choosing the right one can be confusing. Take comfort in knowing that while alarms might look different and/or have different features, they are all tested to the same standard. Make sure that the alarm you are purchasing is
CSA-6.19 Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices or
UL 2034 Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide alarms. Features to consider:
Unlike smoke, CO mixes freely with the air, so your CO alarm doesn't have to go on the ceiling or up high. It does need to be near the area where you sleep so that it is loud enough to wake you up and get you into action. If your home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, install a carbon monoxide alarm adjacent to each sleeping area. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them exactly.
If you live in an apartment or condo building and there is a fuel-burning appliance inside your unit, install a carbon monoxide alarm adjacent to your sleeping area. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them exactly.
If the building has a service room with a fuel-burning appliance, CO alarms must be installed in the service room and adjacent to each sleeping area of all condos/apartment/units above, below and beside the service room.
If the building has a garage, CO alarms must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area of all condos/apartment/units above, below and beside the service room.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them exactly. Carbon monoxide alarms do not last forever. Check the expiry date on the alarm so that you know when to replace them. If you cannot find a date, replace the alarm.
Exposure to CO can cause flu like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness. In very severe cases, CO poisoning can cause brain damage and death. The elderly, children, people with heart or respiratory conditions, and pets may be particularly sensitive to CO and may feel the effects sooner. If you experience flu-like symptoms at home but feel better when you leave, it might be a warning that there is a CO leak inside your home.
If you or anyone else in your home is experiencing the symptoms of CO poisoning, or your CO alarm sounds, make sure that everyone leaves the home immediately and gets medical help. Call 911. Leave your doors and windows closed when you leave so that Emergency Personnel can get an accurate reading of the CO levels in your home when they respond.
CO is virtually the same weight as air, so it does not concentrate high or low. It closely resembles the behaviour of food colouring in water; it will eventually mix evenly throughout, no matter the size of the container.
No, for several reasons. If the alarm is right at the furnace, then it is probably in the basement where your chance of hearing it is minimised. Secondly, if the alarm sounds at the furnace, most people conclude that the furnace is the problem and may fail to investigate other potential sources. Thirdly, if the furnace is the root of the problem, it’s going to blow CO throughout your home anyway. Install alarms where you are most likely to hear them. Your owner’s manual will identify best options.
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