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From the Field
Carbon Monoxide and Gas Appliances at Home
What carbon monoxide is, how to spot trouble, and where to put alarms, with guidance from the CDC and CPSC.
Quick answer
Short answer: Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that fuel-burning appliances can release when they vent badly. Put working CO alarms near sleeping areas, have gas appliances serviced every year, and if an alarm sounds, get outside and call 911.
- Who this is for: any home with a gas, propane or oil appliance, a fireplace, or a generator nearby.
- Warning signs: headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, and an alarm going off.
- Urgent: an alarm, or symptoms that ease when you leave the house. Go outside first.
- Ryan's part: gas line work and gas leak detection. He does not replace your alarms or an emergency call.
Gas water heaters, furnaces, ranges and fireplaces are safe when they work and vent right. When something goes wrong, carbon monoxide, or CO, can build up in a house without anyone noticing. This page uses guidance from the CDC and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Not an emergency, but something feels off?
Text Ryan a photo of the appliance or the vent. For an alarm or a gas smell, leave and call 911 first.
If an Alarm Sounds or You Feel Sick
- Get everyone outside to fresh air right away, including pets.
- Call 911 from outside. CPSC says never to ignore a sounding CO alarm and not to go back in until responders say it is safe.
- Do not hunt for the source first.
- If the alarm sounds again within a day of coming home, repeat these steps and have a qualified technician check every fuel-burning appliance.
A gas smell is a different problem, and the steps are in our guide on what to do if you smell gas. In both cases, leave the house before you call.
Warning Signs in People
The CDC lists headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach and vomiting as the most common symptoms, and notes that they are often mistaken for the flu. CPSC adds sleepiness and confusion. A person who is sleeping or has been drinking can be harmed before any symptoms show. That is why alarms matter.
One clue is timing. If several people in the house feel sick, or feel better when they leave, treat it as a possible CO problem and get outside.
Alarms: Where They Go and How to Keep Them Working
- CPSC says to install battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
- The CDC says to put them near every sleeping area.
- CPSC does not recommend placing them above fuel-burning appliances or in kitchens, or where furniture or drapes can cover them.
- The CDC says to check the batteries when you change your clocks each spring and fall.
- Replace alarms on the schedule the maker gives. The CDC says that is every five years, or as the maker instructs.
- Interconnected alarms are best, since CPSC notes that when one sounds, they all sound.
Gas Appliances and Venting
The CDC says to have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliance serviced by a qualified technician every year, and to have the chimney checked or cleaned every year.
A gas or propane water heater burns fuel and sends the exhaust out through a vent. The vent should stay connected and clear. Nothing should be stored on or against the heater. Our page on gas, electric and propane water heaters compares the fuels, and an electric heater makes no CO because it burns nothing.
If your water heater's pilot light keeps going out, see pilot light out. A pilot that will not stay lit is a reason to call. Do not relight it again and again if you smell gas.
Why Mountain Homes Need Extra Care
- Winter outages. When the power goes out, people bring in heaters, grills and generators. The CDC says never to use a generator inside your home or garage, even with doors and windows open, and CPSC says to keep portable units at least 20 feet from the home. Our page on a gas line to a standby generator covers fixed units.
- Closed-up houses. In cold weather the windows stay shut, so any leak of exhaust stays inside.
- Propane appliances. Many mountain homes run propane for heat, hot water and cooking, all of which need good venting.
- Vacation homes. An appliance that sat unused for months should be checked by a technician before the first cold weekend.
Where Ryan Helps
Ryan is a licensed Master Plumber who installs and extends gas lines, propane and natural gas, does gas leak detection, and repairs, replaces and installs water heaters, tank and tankless. If you have a gas smell, a heater you are unsure about, or a new gas appliance, call or text. He gives a free estimate before any work. See gas line installation and water heater service.
For a carbon monoxide alarm or symptoms, call 911 first. Ryan is not an emergency responder and does not sell or install CO alarms. Furnace and heating system service is also not his job, so call a heating specialist for that.
Common Questions
Can a gas water heater cause carbon monoxide?
Any fuel-burning appliance can if it vents badly or breaks. The CDC says to have your water heater serviced by a qualified technician every year.
Does an electric water heater make carbon monoxide?
No. It does not burn fuel. Gas and propane units do.
Where should I put CO alarms?
CPSC says on every level and outside sleeping areas. The CDC says near every sleeping area. Avoid above fuel-burning appliances and in kitchens, per CPSC.
How often should I replace CO alarms?
Follow the maker's date on the alarm. The CDC says every five years or as the maker says. Check batteries each spring and fall.
What do I do if my alarm goes off?
Go outside, call 911, and stay out until responders say it is safe.
Can I run a generator in my garage during an outage?
No. The CDC says never, even with doors and windows open. CPSC says keep portable units at least 20 feet away.
Related Reading
Questions about gas appliances at your house?
If there is no alarm and no gas smell, call or text Ryan. He gives a free estimate before any work.