Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless gas that is produced by combustion.

  Never move a barbecue with hot charcoal or briquettes into your building.

Gas and fuel burning appliances should be properly maintained to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as:

• Furnaces
• Gas ranges or ovens
• Gas water heaters
• Gas or wood-burning fireplaces

Every dwelling unit (new or older home) in the city is required by the Fire By-law to have a carbon monoxide alarming devices installed, if the home:

• Has an attached garage
• Has a fuel-fired (natural gas, propane, fuel oil, diesel, wood) appliance; such as a furnace, hot water tank, stove, or fireplace
• Shares a common floor or wall with a parking garage or a service room containing a fuel-fired appliance

Print out: When you need a carbon monoxide alarm PDF file (318 KB)

  If hard-wired or electrically plugged-in, ensure the carbon monoxide alarming device is not connected to an electrical circuit that has an on/off switch, other than at the circuit breaker.

Where a home requires a carbon monoxide alarming device, it must be installed either:

• Inside each bedroom
• Outside each bedroom within five metres of the bedroom door, measured following corridors, and doorways

Install carbon monoxide detectors alarming devices away from heat-producing sources, and follow the manufacturer's guidelines. Before installation, read the user manual. The manufacturer's instructions are to be followed for the height of installation of the device. In the absence of manufacturer's instructions, they are to be installed on or near the ceiling within 150 mm.

• Test your alarms regularly by holding the "TEST" button down until the alarm sounds – it can take up to 20 seconds for the alarm to sound, so make sure you hold it down long enough
• Know the difference between your carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm
• If your carbon monoxide alarm is beeping intermittently, check your user's manual
• Replace a new carbon monoxide alarm every five years
• If your carbon monoxide alarm has replaceable batteries, the batteries should be changed every six months.