Carbon Monoxide Safety: What Every Home Needs to Know
Two safety alerts, one topic: what your local fire department wants every household to know, and what the province is proposing for CO alarms going forward.
Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless, and deadly. The following guidance is shared by Sun Peaks Fire Rescue to help every household in the area protect against CO exposure.
Keep your home safe
- Install certified CO alarms on every floor, especially near bedrooms and sleeping areas.
- Test alarms monthly and replace batteries as needed.
- Have all furnaces, fireplaces, and fuel-burning appliances inspected and maintained annually by a professional.
- Clear snow and ice from exterior vents, chimneys, and exhausts, especially after a snowfall.
- Never use generators, BBQs, camp stoves, or vehicles indoors or in a garage.
If your CO alarm sounds, or you suspect poisoning
Get outside into fresh air immediately. Call 9‑1‑1.
New CO alarm requirements being considered for BC
Technical Safety BC is exploring a proposal to require certified CO alarms in all existing residential buildings with gas appliances, not just new construction. Under the proposal, property owners would be responsible for installing, testing, and maintaining alarms, and gas contractors would verify they're in place during service calls.
“Carbon Monoxide Exposure” · Technical Safety BC · watch on YouTube
Read more or share your feedback on the proposal at engage.technicalsafetybc.ca.
Why annual inspections matter
Furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, and other fuel-burning appliances are the most common source of carbon monoxide in a home. A yearly safety inspection by a licensed gas contractor catches the leaks, blockages, and wear that a CO alarm alone can't prevent.
Due for your annual gas appliance inspection?
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