What in a house would give off carbon monoxide?

Author: Amya Leannon  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Carbon Monoxide sources in the home
  • Clothes dryers.
  • Water heaters.
  • Furnaces or boilers.
  • Fireplaces, both gas and wood burning.
  • Gas stoves and ovens.
  • Motor vehicles.
  • Grills, generators, power tools, lawn equipment.
  • Wood stoves.

What things in your home can cause carbon monoxide?

What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?
  • Fires.
  • Malfunctioning cooking appliances.
  • Tobacco smoke.
  • Clogged chimney.
  • Auto exhaust or idling vehicles.
  • Malfunctioning water heater.
  • Malfunctioning oil, wood, gas, or coal furnaces.
  • Malfunctioning gas clothes dryer.

What is the most likely source of carbon monoxide in a house?

One of the most common sources of exposure in the home is the gas or kerosene-powered heater. Gas-powered water heaters, stoves, and furnaces may also produce carbon monoxide.

How can you tell if carbon monoxide is in your house?

What Are Signs of Carbon Monoxide in Your Home?
  • Yellow or orange flames coming out of your gas appliances instead of the usual blue flame.
  • Dark and sooty staining on or around gas appliances.
  • Pilot lights that frequently blow out.
  • Increased condensation on windows.
  • Solid fuel fires burn much slower than usual.

What are the top 3 sources of carbon monoxide?

Gas stoves. Generators and other gasoline-powered equipment. Automobile exhaust from attached garages.

What Causes Carbon Monoxide In A Home - Ace Hardware

What appliances put off carbon monoxide?

Fireplaces, both gas and wood burning. Gas stoves and ovens. Motor vehicles. Grills, generators, power tools, lawn equipment.

What are two warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO, it can make you pass out or kill you.

Will opening a window help with carbon monoxide?

If you experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning: DO GET FRESH AIR IMMEDIATELY. Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances and leave the house.

How to detect carbon monoxide without a detector?

Signs of carbon monoxide:
  1. Stuffy or stale air.
  2. A pilot light keeps going out.
  3. More condensation than usual on your windows.
  4. Soot build up around a fireplace, chimney, or other fuel-burning equipment.
  5. Fuel-burning equipment has a back-draft (flame flares up when a window or door opens and adds air).

Where does carbon monoxide collect in a house?

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is slightly lighter than oxygen. That means it will tend to gather toward a room's ceiling. Many sources of carbon monoxide also release warm air, like furnaces or car exhaust. Warm air rises, which is another reason carbon monoxide is more likely to rise.

What carries carbon monoxide in home?

Your home may contain one or more appliances that produce CO. These include: oil or gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas or propane barbeques, gas space heaters, gas ranges and ovens, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves. Vehicles also produce carbon monoxide.

What releases a lot of carbon monoxide?

The greatest sources of CO to outdoor air are cars, trucks and other vehicles or machinery that burn fossil fuels. A variety of items in your home such as unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, and gas stoves also release CO and can affect air quality indoors.

Do electric dryers produce carbon monoxide?

Do electric dryers release carbon monoxide? No, you cannot get carbon monoxide poisoning from an electric dryer because there's no gas involved. Carbon monoxide and its potential for poisoning cannot be produced by any appliance that do not burn gas.

How to get rid of carbon monoxide in a house?

If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the home with fresh air and turn off all potential sources of CO. That includes your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater, and any vehicle or small engine.

Do electric water heaters give off carbon monoxide?

Only certain types of water heaters can potentially cause carbon monoxide. If you have an electric water heater, you won't have to worry about this issue at all. Only water heaters that are powered by natural gas or oil are at risk. The risk can be very low if everything is functioning properly.

Do smoke detectors detect carbon monoxide?

But even though you have a comprehensive smoke detection system, it isn't enough to protect against the threat of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, and invisible gas that can make inhabitants sick or even lead to death.

What leaks carbon monoxide in a house?

The most common causes of carbon monoxide building up are incorrectly installed or poorly maintained or ventilated appliances – like stoves and hot water heaters. Poorly ventilated fireplaces and other gas- or wood-burning appliances can also pose danger.

How do I use my iPhone to detect carbon monoxide?

Go to the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. , then tap Home Settings. Tap Safety & Security. Tap Sound Recognition, then turn on Smoke & CO Alarm.

Should I call 911 if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?

My carbon monoxide alarm is sounding. What should I do? Call 911 and report what is happening. Immediately leave your residence and wait for the fire department to arrive.

What is the most common source of carbon monoxide?

One of the most common sources of carbon monoxide in the home is a faulty furnace. A malfunctioning furnace can leak CO into your indoor air, causing it to build up and create an unsafe living environment.

Can dogs smell carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, commonly known as CO, is an odorless, colorless, and non-irritating gas. No pet can identify the gas because CO lacks any scent whatsoever. Exposure can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in both humans and pets.

How do you check your house for carbon monoxide?

The easiest way to see if there is carbon monoxide inside your home is with a carbon monoxide detector (which also includes an alarm). In fact, many building codes require a carbon monoxide gas detector.

Can I call the fire department to check for carbon monoxide?

Yes, the fire department can check for carbon monoxide. If you suspect the presence of carbon monoxide in your home or building, it's essential to act quickly. Evacuate the area, ensure everyone's safety, and call your local emergency services or fire department.

What are the symptoms of a gas leak?

Natural Gas Leak Physical Symptoms
  • Ringing in your ears.
  • A reduced appetite.
  • Pain in the chest.
  • Nosebleeds.
  • Blistering or pale skin.
  • Flu-like symptoms.
  • Dizziness.
  • Breathing difficulties.

What to do if a carbon monoxide alarm goes off and then stops?

If you have a carbon monoxide detector chirping and then it stops, it's important to take the situation seriously, even if the alarm is no longer sounding. Even if the alarm has stopped, get everyone out of the home to a place with fresh air.

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