Smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms save lives. Understanding where alarms should be installed and knowing the signs of carbon monoxide exposure are the best ways to be prepared.
On this page:
- CO Awareness Week
- Required alarms
- What to do if the carbon monoxide alarm sounds
- Signs of carbon monoxide exposure
- Check and replace alarms
- Keep detectors clean
- False alarms
- Gas appliance inspections
CO Awareness Week
Ontario’s Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from November 1 to 7 and reminds you to have working CO alarms in your home and to prevent carbon monoxide leaks by getting all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually. Learn the signs of CO exposure and how to protect your home on this page or on COSafety.ca.
Required alarms
You need a smoke alarm on each storey of your home, and outside all sleeping areas.
If you have a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage, you must install a carbon monoxide alarm outside all sleeping areas in your home.
We recommend installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every room of the house, as well as outside bedrooms.
Find the right detector for your home
Talk to staff at your local hardware store to get the right detectors for your home. Smoke alarms are available for the deaf and hard of hearing through Canadian Hearing Society.
Direct Detect
Consider subscribing to Direct Detect, Kitchener Fire's direct detection and monitoring program, to ensure you have the protection you need.
What to do if the carbon monoxide alarm sounds
If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, and you or other occupants feel any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 911 or your local emergency services number from outside the building.
If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds and no one feels any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, check to see if the battery or alarm needs to be replaced before calling 911.
Do not open windows
Do not ventilate the area by opening windows before fire crews arrive to test for carbon monoxide.
It will be easier for fire crews to locate the source of the carbon monoxide if the windows are closed.
Signs of carbon monoxide exposure
Exposure to carbon monoxide causes flu-like symptoms like:
- headaches
- nausea
- dizziness
Exposure can also lead to confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
Check and replace alarms
Check your alarms
Check your alarms every month to make sure they are working properly. We recommend using the daylight savings time changeovers as a reminder to change your batteries twice a year.
Replace alarms
Replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every 10 years from the manufacturers date listed on the back of the detector. Even if the light and 'beep' work, the sensor will most likely stop working after this time and fail to warn you of an emergency.
Keep detectors clean
To prevent false alarms, vacuum or dust your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to keep them working properly.
False alarms
If you have smoke alarms near kitchens or outside bathrooms, cooking and steam can trigger false alarms.
Gas appliance inspections
If your property has gas appliances, it is critical to have these appliances inspected every year. This will ensure that your appliances meet safety requirements that reduce the risk of carbon monoxide incidents. Get a full list of registered contractors from CO safety.