Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector: It Could Save Your Life

If your home uses any appliance that burns gas—such as a furnace, stove, fireplace, or water heater—it’s important to have a working carbon monoxide detector. It’s a small device that can make a big difference in keeping your family safe.

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a colorless and odorless gas. It’s produced when fuels like gas, oil, wood, or coal don’t burn completely. Unlike smoke, you can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, which is what makes it so dangerous.

CO poisoning is a kind of slow suffocation. The gas attaches to the hemoglobin in your blood, which is the protein that carries oxygen. As carbon monoxide builds up in the bloodstream, it blocks oxygen from reaching your brain, heart, and other organs.

Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache and tiredness. As levels rise, people may experience dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. In high enough amounts, it can be fatal.

While carbon monoxide poisoning doesn’t happen often, it’s still a serious threat. The Mayo Clinic Health Letter reports that between 800 and 1,000 people in the U.S. die from it each year. That may sound low in a country of over 250 million people, but experts say every death is preventable—and a working detector is one of the best ways to stop it.

When choosing a detector, look for models approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These models are tested for safety and reliability. A good carbon monoxide detector should have a loud alarm that can be heard clearly, even from another room. It should also have a light that shows it’s working, a manual reset button to briefly silence it, and a test button that lets you check if the alarm is still active.

CO detectors should be installed near sleeping areas and on each level of the home. Batteries should be tested regularly—experts recommend checking them once a month—and the entire unit should be replaced every five to seven years, depending on the model.

Carbon monoxide poisoning often happens during the colder months, when homes are sealed tight and gas appliances are used more often. That’s why fall is the perfect time to check your detectors or install new ones before winter sets in.

It only takes a few minutes, but that quick check could save your life.