Carbon monoxide safety

Appliance safety and maintenance

Maintaining gas appliances with annual servicing is one of the best ways to protect against carbon monoxide exposure in your home or building. Here are some tips: 

• Have gas appliances installed and inspected regularly by a Technical Safety BC licensed gas contractor. Find a licensed contractor in your area using our online directory.
• Annual appliance maintenance should also include checking pipes, vents and ducts to make sure they’re not disconnected, blocked or corroded.
• Make sure the gas contractor employs certified gas fitters (ask to see the gas fitter’s certification) and ask if the gas fitter knows how to check heat exchangers–companies that only clean furnaces and ducting may not be qualified to do this kind of inspection.
• Always keep furnace fan compartment doors and/or the filter access panel in place.
• If you’re planning energy-conservation upgrades to your home or building such as caulking, draftproofing or insulation or adding high-volume exhaust fans, talk to your licensed gas contractor to ensure gas appliances and heating systems will have adequate ventilation.

Preventing carbon monoxide problems

Along with regularly maintaining gas appliances, installing CO alarms and making sure there’s airflow when burning fuels,² there are other ways you can stay safe from CO exposure:

• Never use outdoor equipment indoors. This includes barbecues, camp stoves, propane lanterns, generators or lawnmowers.
• Move vehicles and gas-powered equipment out of the garage right after starting them.
• If using a wood-burning fireplace, open the damper and crack a window or door nearby. Close the damper once the fire is completely out and ashes have cooled.
• When buying equipment, check for safety labels like the Canadian Standards Association.
• Only use the equipment the way you’re supposed to.

See more prevention tips in how to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.

Don’t ignore the signs of carbon monoxide 

Breathing in CO can be very dangerous. If you’re exposed to high levels of CO, it could lead to unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. Symptoms to watch for include:

• chronic headaches
• nausea
• drowsiness
• impaired judgment
• loss of coordination

If others feel the same symptoms, or you feel better after leaving the house or building, it could be a sign of CO exposure.

For more details about the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, visit the Government of Canada’s Health Infobase or Technical Safety BC.

What to do in an emergency

If your CO alarm goes off, or you suspect CO exposure:

1. turn off your appliances
2. get everyone, including pets, out of the building
3. call 911 or FortisBC’s emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 (24 hours)
4. get medical help to treat any symptoms

FortisBC takes CO calls seriously and will investigate all potential CO problems. If there’s a source of CO exposure, a FortisBC crew member will clear out the gas and let you know when it’s safe to go back inside.

Buying and installing carbon monoxide alarms

CO alarms help keep your home and family safe. While regular appliance checkups can help prevent CO leaks, CO alarms can warn you if CO is in the air.

What to look for on the package:

• a blue flame logo indicating Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approval and the number (CSA 6.19-17) on the label
• the replacement date and warranty period

Key features

• battery-powered (look for sealed lithium batteries) or plug-in alarms with battery backup (note: battery backup may only operate for a few hours after the power fails)
• display screen that shows the highest CO level and when it happened

Installing a carbon monoxide alarm

• Install CO alarms in bedrooms or outside each sleeping area on each level of your home. 
• If your alarm is battery-powered, check batteries at least twice a year.