Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content
Loyalist Township Logo
Contact Us
  • Emergency Alerts (CodeRed)
  • Email Us
  • 613-386-7351
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Latest News:

Pause
  • Living in Loyalist
    • Animal Services
    • Cemeteries
    • Churches
    • Community Calendar
    • Community Grants
    • Community Organizations
    • COVID-19
    • Earth Day
    • Fire and Emergency Services
    • Garbage and Recycling
    • Health Services
    • Housing
    • Libraries
    • Municipal Calendar
    • New to Loyalist
    • Public Consultation
    • Property Taxes
    • ResiLienT Loyalist Township Climate Action Plan
    • Roads
    • Schools
    • Senior and Social Services
    • Transportation
    • Water and Sewer
    View our Living in Loyalist page
    Living in Loyalist
  • Explore and Play
    • Arts and Culture
    • Community Organizations
    • Events
    • Facilities and Rentals
    • Golf and Country Clubs
    • History and Heritage
    • Libraries
    • Maps and Apps
    • Marina
    • Parks and Trails
    • Recreation
    • Tourism
    • Volunteering
  • Business and Development
    • Advertising and Sponsorship
    • Building and Construction
    • Economic Development
    • Infrastructure Master Plan
    • Infrastructure Projects
    • Maps and Apps
    • Planning and Development
    • Procurement
    • Water and Sewer
  • Council and Administration
    • Accessibility
    • Accountability
    • Advertising and Sponsorship
    • Agendas and Minutes
    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Asset Management
    • Awards
    • Budget and Financial Reporting
    • By-laws and Enforcement
    • Careers
    • Community Hub Project
    • Council
    • Elections
    • Freedom of Information Requests
    • Infrastructure Projects
    • Land Acknowledgement Statement
    • Mourning of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
    • Municipal Offices
    • Organizational Chart
    • Plans, Reports, and Studies
    • Proclamations and Public Awareness Campaigns
    • Procurement
    • Report a Concern
    • Staff Directory
Firefighter battling a fire

Carbon Monoxide

Home...Fire ServicesSafety and AwarenessCarbon Monoxide
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, toxic gas that enters the body through the lungs during the normal breathing process. It replaces oxygen in the blood and prevents the flow of oxygen to the heart, brain and other vital organs.

Why should I be concerned about carbon monoxide?

It kills.

Many Canadians die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning in their own homes, most of them while sleeping.

It injures.

Hundreds of Canadians are hospitalized every year from carbon monoxide poisoning, many of whom are permanently disabled. Everyone is at Risk - 88% of all homes have something that poses a carbon monoxide threat.

Where does carbon monoxide from from?

It's produced when carbon-based fuels are incompletely burned, such as:

  • Wood
  • Propane
  • Natural Gas
  • Heating Oil
  • Coal
  • Kerosene
  • Charcoal
  • Gasoline

What are the sources of carbon monoxide in my home?

  • Wood burning or gas stoves
  • Gas refrigerators
  • Gasoline engines
  • Kerosene heaters
  • Gas or propane furnaces

How can I tell if there's a carbon monoxide leak in my home?

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, burning eyes, fainting, confusion, and drowsiness. It can sometimes be confused for common illnesses like the flu. Symptoms will be experienced by more than one member of the household and will often improve when you're away from your home for a period of time.

Continued exposure to higher levels of carbon monoxide may result in unconsciousness, brain damage, and death.

The elderly, children and people with heart or respiratory conditions may be particularly sensitive to carbon monoxide.

Other noticeable signs of a carbon monoxide leak can include:

  • Air feels stale/stuffy
  • Excessive moisture on windows or walls
  • Sharp penetrating odour or smell of gas when furnace or other fuel burning appliance turns on
  • Burning and pilot light flames are yellow or orange, not blue
  • Pilot light on the furnace or water heater goes out
  • Chalky white powder or soot buildup occurs around exhaust vent or chimney

How can I protect myself and my family?

  • Schedule regular maintenance and ensure appliances are properly ventilated.
  • Have a qualified service professional inspect your fuel burning appliance(s) at least once per year.
  • Have you chimney inspected and cleaned every year by a W.E.T.T. certified professional.
  • Be sure your carbon monoxide alarm has been certified to the Canadian Standard Association (CSA) CAN/CGA 6.19 standard or the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2034 standard.
  • Install a carbon monoxide alarm in or near the sleeping area(s) of the home.
  • Install the carbon monoxide alarms(s) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Where should I install the carbon monoxide alarm?

Since carbon monoxide moves freely in the air, the suggested location is in or as near as possible to sleeping areas of the home. The human body is most vulnerable to the effects of carbon monoxide during sleeping hours. To work properly the unit must not be blocked by furniture or draperies. Carbon monoxide is virtually the same weight as air and therefore the alarm protects you in a high or low location.

For maximum protection, a carbon monoxide alarm should be located outside primary sleeping areas, in sleeping areas and in each level of your home.

Some locations may interfere with the proper operation of the alarm and may cause false alarms or trouble signals. CO alarms should not be installed in the following locations:

  • Where the temperature may drop below 4.4o C (40oF) or exceed 37.8oC (100oF).
  • Near paint thinner fumes or household cleaning products. Ensure proper ventilation when using these types of chemicals.
  • Within 1.5m (5 feet) of any cooking or open flame appliances such as furnaces, stoves and fireplaces.
  • In exhaust streams from gas engines, vents, flues or chimneys.
  • Do not place in close proximity to an automobile exhaust pipe; this will damage the alarm.

What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm starts beeping?

Always react to a carbon monoxide alarm that has alarmed! Get out of your home and call 911 for assistance from the fire department.

How do I maintain my carbon monoxide detector?

Test your carbon monoxide alarm regularly to make sure it is operating properly. The owner's manual should tell you how to test your alarm. Remember to check the manual for information on when to buy a new carbon monoxide alarm.

To keep safe please remember:

You have a responsibility to know about the dangers of carbon monoxide. Your knowledge and actions may save lives.

A carbon monoxide alarm is a good second line of defense. It is not a substitute for the proper care and maintenance of your fuel burning appliance(s). Take the time to learn about the use of carbon monoxide alarms in your home to ensure you are using the equipment properly and effectively.

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page
Living in Loyalist
    • Fire and Emergency Services
      Toggle Section Fire and Emergency Services Menu
      • Emergency Alerts (CodeRed)
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • Fire Services
        Toggle Section Fire Services Menu
        • About Us
          Toggle Section About Us Menu
          • Stations
          • Emergency Alerts (CodeRed)
          • Superior tanker shuttle service
          • Training
        • News
        • Safety and Awareness
          Toggle Section Safety and Awareness Menu
          • Carbon Monoxide
          • Fireworks
          • Hazards and Spills
          • Home Fire Escape Planning
          • Open Air Burning and Wildland Fires
          • Smoke Alarms
          • Wood Stoves
      • Police
    • Animal Services
      Toggle Section Animal Services Menu
      • Dog Licensing
      • Kennel Licencing
      • Livestock Claims
      • Pest Control
    • Cemeteries
    • Churches
    • Community Calendar
    • Community Grants
    • Community Organizations
      Toggle Section Community Organizations Menu
      • Community Calendar
    • COVID-19
    • Earth Day
    • Garbage and Recycling
      Toggle Section Garbage and Recycling Menu
      • Brush and yard waste
      • Composting
      • Garbage
        Toggle Section Garbage Menu
        • Bag Tags
      • Giveaway Day
      • Landfills
      • Recycling
    • Health Services
    • Housing
    • Libraries
    • Municipal Calendar
    • New to Loyalist
    • Public Consultation
    • Property Taxes
      Toggle Section Property Taxes Menu
      • Change ownership or mailing address
      • How property taxes are calculated
      • Interim final tax billing, installment due dates
      • Payment application and late payment charges
      • Payment Options
      • Property Assessments
      • Rebates and Credits
      • Receipts and statement of taxes
      • Supplementary tax billings - new construction and property changes
      • Tax certificates
    • ResiLienT Loyalist Township Climate Action Plan
    • Roads
      Toggle Section Roads Menu
      • Entrance Permits
      • Excavation Permits
      • Event Planning
      • Fill Removal and Placement Permits
      • Parking
      • Pedestrian Crossovers
      • Seasonal Load Restrictions
      • Snow Removal
    • Schools
    • Senior and Social Services
    • Transportation
      Toggle Section Transportation Menu
      • Amherst Island Ferry
      • Transit Service
        Toggle Section Transit Service Menu
        • Intercommunity Transit
    • Water and Sewer
      Toggle Section Water and Sewer Menu
      • Call Before You Dig
      • Private Wells and Septic Systems
      • Sanitary Sewers
      • Water and Sewer Billing
      • Water Conservation Incentive Program
      • Water Leak Forgiveness Adjustment Policy
      • Water Quality

Loyalist Township Footer Logo

© 2020 Loyalist Township

Box 70, 263 Main Street
Odessa, Ontario K0H 2H0
Tel: 613-386-7351
info@loyalist.ca

Office Hours

Mon - Fri  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

After-Hours Emergencies
Involving Roads, Water/Sewer Service, or a Township Facility
Call 613-507-3069

  • Links

    • Accessibility
    • Freedom of Information Requests
    • Privacy
    • Sitemap
    • Website Feedback
  • Social Media

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • LinkedIn
Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.