Carbon monoxide (CO) is odourless, colourless, tasteless, non-irritating, poisonous—and deadly.
Excessive amounts of CO will form if there isn't an adequate air supply when burning common fuels, such as natural gas, propane and kerosene.
Common carbon monoxide sources in your home
- corroded, disconnected or plugged chimneys on fuel-burning appliances
- barbecuing indoors
- an idling vehicle in an attached garage
- attached garage passageway door to your home is left ajar
- heated garages or shops with unvented or improperly vented equipment
- defective furnace heat exchanger
- depressurization (i.e. a change in your home's air pressure when inside air is exhausted faster than outside fresh air can come in)
Signs that there may be carbon monoxide in your home
- stuffy air
- sudden formation of excessive moisture on windows and walls
- soot build-up around appliances and vents
- a yellow flame in a natural gas appliance instead of blue
- a pilot light that keeps going out
- fumes that may smell similar to vehicle exhaust (CO is odourless, but may be accompanied by other exhaust-like fumes)
- properly functioning detector indicates there is CO in the air
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
- dizziness
- burning eyes
- headache
- vomiting
- nausea
- loss of muscle control
- fatigue
- confusion
When CO is inhaled, the red blood cells become deprived of oxygen. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of CO leads to unconsciousness, convulsions, brain damage and ultimately, death.
