Good to Know: Carbon Monoxide Safety 

June 26, 2024

Good to Know: Power outage safety. Danger: Carbon Monoxide. Keep generators, outdoor barbecues and propane heaters outside and away from your house.

If you’re using alternate heat or power sources during an outage, always keep safety top of mind and be aware of the risks around carbon monoxide (CO).

Devices such as furnaces, wood stoves, gas-powered generators and propane bbqs can all be a risk for carbon monoxide.

  • Don’t use any propane appliances inside—the fumes can be toxic.
  • Never use a generator indoors, only in well-ventilated areas to avoid the exhaust.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Carbon monoxide can only be detected with a carbon monoxide alarm. Smoke alarms alert you to fires, not carbon monoxide so you should have at least one CO alarm installed in your home, in addition to a smoke alarm – preferably in hallways, outside of sleeping areas. The audible alarm will warn you of high carbon monoxide levels in your home.

When buying CO alarms, it’s important to look for products with a Canadian certification mark – meaning they have been tested by laboratory professionals and meet the requirements of Canadian safety standards.

Extra Tips

  • Test your CO alarms regularly
  • Replace batteries and the CO alarm as recommended by the manufacturer
  • Write on the battery or device to remind yourself when it was installed and when it should be replaced
  • Check the expiry date of your CO alarms and replace them when necessary