Winter storms can bring freezing temperatures, power outages, and the scramble for alternative heat sources. When folks use heating equipment the wrong way, carbon monoxide can build up inside homes fast. The best way to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning during a winter storm? Keep all fuel-burning devices outside, and make sure you’ve got working carbon monoxide detectors.
Carbon monoxide is invisible and has no smell, so it sneaks up on people. It comes from things like portable generators, gas stoves, fireplaces, and charcoal grills.
If a house isn’t well ventilated, CO can reach dangerous levels quickly. People might get headaches, dizziness, or nausea before things get really serious.
With a few precautions, families can stay warm and safe even if the power’s out. Learn how carbon monoxide forms, spot the warning signs early, and follow some proven steps to keep it out of your home.
Understanding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that builds up indoors when people use fuel-burning devices without enough ventilation. During winter storms, power outages and cold can push people to use risky alternative heating or cooking methods.
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from burning fuels like natural gas, propane, wood, oil, or charcoal. Since you can’t see or smell it, most people don’t realize they’re breathing it in.
When you breathe in CO, it enters your bloodstream and latches onto hemoglobin much easier than oxygen does. That blocks your body from carrying oxygen to vital organs.
Common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion
High CO levels can knock you out or even kill you. Infants, older adults, and anyone with heart or lung issues get hit harder.
Why Winter Storms Increase CO Risks
Winter storms often cut the power, so homes lose central heating. People turn to things like portable generators, gas heaters, or stoves for warmth.
If you use those indoors or without good ventilation, they can pump out dangerous CO.
Snow and ice sometimes block vents, chimneys, or flues, trapping exhaust gases. Even a furnace that usually works fine can become dangerous if the exhaust path gets blocked.
When it’s freezing, people seal up their homes tight to keep heat in. That saves energy, but it also stops fresh air from venting CO outside.
Using fuel-burning devices indoors for long stretches is especially risky in small or stuffy spaces.
Common Sources of Carbon Monoxide Indoors
Several home appliances and emergency tools can make CO:
| Source | Risk Factor | Safe Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnaces | Poor maintenance or blocked vents | Annual inspection by a qualified technician |
| Portable generators | Running indoors or near openings | Operate outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors and windows |
| Gas stoves/ovens | Using for heat | Never use for space heating |
| Fireplaces | Blocked chimney | Yearly cleaning and inspection |
| Kerosene or gas heaters | Inadequate ventilation | Use only in well-ventilated areas |
Misusing these devices causes most CO poisonings during winter emergencies. Regular maintenance, correct placement, and good ventilation matter for safety.
Recognizing Symptoms of CO Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning is tough to spot since the gas has no smell, taste, or color. Symptoms can look like a cold or flu, which delays action and raises the risk.
Early Warning Signs
Mild or moderate exposure often brings on symptoms that feel like tiredness or a bug. Headache is the main early sign, with dizziness, nausea, and weakness close behind.
Some folks get shortness of breath or feel lightheaded. These symptoms can creep up slowly, especially if there’s a small but steady CO source.
As exposure continues, symptoms usually get worse. If several people in the same place feel sick—especially with no fever—think about CO poisoning. Even pets may seem unusually tired or off balance.
Here’s a quick table to help remember early signs:
| Symptom | Notes |
|---|---|
| Headache | Often dull and persistent |
| Dizziness | May feel like imbalance or lightheadedness |
| Nausea | Sometimes with mild vomiting |
| Weakness | Fatigue without clear cause |
Severe and Life-Threatening Symptoms
High CO levels can bring on much worse symptoms quickly. Confusion and trouble thinking straight are common, showing the brain isn’t getting enough oxygen.
Other serious signs include chest pain, rapid heartbeat, unsteady walking, and loss of coordination. People can pass out or even slip into a coma.
Breathing might get fast or shallow, and skin can turn pale or bluish. These are medical emergencies.
People with heart problems, pregnant women, babies, and seniors may get dangerously sick faster than healthy adults.
How to Respond to Suspected Exposure
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, act right away. Get everyone—including pets—outside to fresh air.
Don’t waste time searching for the source. Call 911 or local emergency services and let them know you suspect CO exposure.
If you can, turn off fuel-burning appliances from outside the building. Wait for professionals to say it’s safe before going back in.
See a doctor even if you feel better after breathing fresh air. CO can linger in your body for hours, and sometimes complications show up later.
Safe Heating Practices During Power Outages
During winter storms, heating equipment that burns fuel can make carbon monoxide if used wrong. Poor ventilation, broken equipment, and bad placement all raise the risk.
Using the right gear the right way keeps indoor air safe.
Proper Use of Generators
Never run a portable generator inside your house, garage, basement, or enclosed porch. Even with doors or windows open, CO can build up fast.
The safest place for a generator is outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. Point the exhaust away from the house.
Keep fuel in approved containers and store it outside living spaces. Always turn off and cool the generator before refueling to avoid fires.
Quick Safety Checklist:
- Keep outdoors, far from openings
- Point exhaust away from structures
- Use only in dry conditions or under a canopy made for outdoor equipment
- Install battery-operated CO detectors indoors
Space Heater and Fireplace Safety
Electric space heaters are safest if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Set them on flat, nonflammable surfaces and keep them at least 3 feet from bedding, curtains, or furniture.
Fuel-burning heaters like kerosene or propane types need good ventilation. Only use them in well-ventilated rooms and never while sleeping.
Fireplaces need a chimney inspection and cleaning before winter. Use a metal screen or glass door to stop sparks from flying out.
Key Tips:
- Never leave heaters or fires unattended
- Don’t use extension cords with high-wattage heaters
- Store extra fuel outside the living area
Avoiding Dangerous Heating Methods
Some heat sources are always unsafe indoors. Gas stoves, ovens, and charcoal grills should never heat your home. They make CO and can start fires.
Unvented gas heaters—unless designed and approved for indoor use—are risky too. Even approved ones need open windows or vents for fresh air.
If you don’t have safe heat, bundle up in layers and use blankets until the power comes back. Don’t risk using unsafe fuel-burning devices.
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Buildup at Home
Cold weather usually means more furnaces, stoves, and fuel-burning gadgets running. Without safety steps, these can fill your home with dangerous carbon monoxide.
Good ventilation, regular inspections, and smart placement of appliances cut the risk.
Ensuring Adequate Ventilation
CO builds up when fuel-burning appliances run in spaces without enough airflow. This is a bigger problem during winter storms if snow or ice blocks outside vents.
Make sure vents for furnaces, dryers, stoves, and fireplaces stay clear. Snow, leaves, or junk can trap exhaust gases inside.
Don’t seal windows and doors so tight that combustion appliances can’t draw fresh air. In very insulated homes, you might need a vent or air inlet for safe operation.
Never run a car, truck, or gas-powered tool in a garage—even with the door open. Exhaust can seep into the house through walls or ducts.
Annual Maintenance of Appliances
Have a qualified technician inspect furnaces, gas heaters, water heaters, and stoves every year. They’ll check that burners are clean, exhaust systems work, and ventilation is safe.
A pro can test for carbon monoxide leaks and make sure flues and chimneys aren’t blocked. Even small cracks or rust in exhaust pipes let gas escape indoors.
Replace furnace filters on schedule to avoid airflow restrictions. Poor airflow leads to incomplete combustion and higher CO levels.
If an appliance is old or keeps breaking down, it might be safer to replace it.
Safe Placement of Fuel-Burning Devices
Always use portable generators, propane heaters, and similar gear outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. That distance keeps exhaust from drifting inside.
Never use a charcoal grill, camp stove, or unvented gas heater indoors, in a garage, or on an enclosed porch. These pump CO straight into the air you breathe.
With fireplaces, check the flue is fully open before lighting up. Keep the damper open until the fire’s out and embers are cold.
Put space heaters away from things that can catch fire, and never leave them on when you’re not around.
Importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
A carbon monoxide detector is the only way to know if CO levels in your home get too high. Winter storms often mean heating systems run longer and backup generators get used, so the risk goes up.
Choosing and Installing CO Detectors
Pick a carbon monoxide detector tested by a recognized agency like UL (Underwriters Laboratories). You’ll find different types:
| Type | Power Source | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-operated | Batteries only | Works during power outages |
| Plug-in with battery backup | Outlet + battery | Continuous protection |
| Combination CO/smoke detector | Battery or hardwired | Saves space and adds fire detection |
Placement matters. Put at least one detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home. Keep detectors at least 15 feet from fuel-burning appliances to avoid false alarms.
Mount detectors about 5 feet up on the wall, or on the ceiling if nothing’s in the way. Don’t put them in corners or near windows, vents, or fans—airflow can mess with the sensor.
Testing and Maintaining Your Detectors
Test every CO detector once a month using the test button. Change batteries at least once a year, or sooner if you hear the low-battery beep.
Most detectors last 5–7 years. Check the date and swap out old ones.
Gently vacuum the detector’s outside to clear away dust. If the alarm goes off, get everyone outside right away and call emergency services before heading back in.
Set up an annual inspection for fuel-burning appliances and vents, especially before winter starts.
Emergency Actions and Preparedness
Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen fast and without warning, especially during winter storms when people use backup heat or power. Acting quickly when CO is detected, getting everyone out, and taking steps to prevent it next time can save lives.
What to Do If the Alarm Sounds
If your carbon monoxide alarm suddenly goes off, take it seriously. Don’t brush it off or assume it’s just a glitch.
Get everyone out of the house right away and head for fresh air. As you leave, leave the doors open to help air things out a bit.
Once you’re outside, call emergency services from a safe spot. Wait until trained responders give you the all-clear before even thinking about going back inside.
If anyone feels off—like they have a headache, feel dizzy, confused, or nauseous—let emergency responders know immediately. Quick medical attention really matters here.
Don’t shut off the alarm before figuring out what’s going on. Sometimes the problem comes from a broken heater, a generator, or even a vent that’s blocked.
Evacuation and Seeking Medical Help
When you’re evacuating, help kids, older adults, and pets first, since they’re more at risk for CO poisoning.
Find a spot with fresh air at least 20 feet away from buildings, cars, or generators. Stay put until help arrives.
If anyone has symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number. Medical staff might give oxygen therapy to clear the CO from the bloodstream.
Don’t try to hunt down or fix the source of the CO when the alarm’s going off. That just puts you at more risk and wastes precious time.
It’s smart to keep a small emergency bag with warm clothes, blankets, and important meds ready, just in case you need to evacuate during bad winter weather.
Preventing Future Incidents
Put battery-backed carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home, especially near bedrooms. Test them every month. Change the batteries at least once a year—maybe put a reminder in your phone so you don’t forget.
Call a qualified technician to check all your fuel-burning appliances, chimneys, and vents before winter hits. Furnaces, fireplaces, and gas water heaters all need a look.
Always use generators, grills, and camp stoves outside. Make sure they’re at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents.
Before you start your car, clear snow and ice from the exhaust pipe. If the pipe gets blocked, CO can sneak into the car.
Write out clear generator instructions and make sure everyone in your house knows where to find them.