Power outages often push people to find quick ways to stay warm, cook food, or keep their devices running. In those moments, fuel-burning equipment like generators, grills, and gas stoves can feel like obvious solutions.
But these same tools can create dangerous levels of carbon monoxide—a colorless, odorless gas that can make you sick or even kill you without warning.
When severe storms or emergencies hit, the risk jumps because more households rely on alternative heat and power. Carbon monoxide builds up indoors or in enclosed spaces if ventilation gets blocked or isn’t enough.
Knowing how and when this happens could help you prevent harm.
If you understand what carbon monoxide is, how it behaves, and which activities create the biggest risks during outages, you can take steps to protect yourself and others. This knowledge, plus some practical safety habits, really can make all the difference.
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide forms when fuels like wood, coal, natural gas, or gasoline burn but don’t get enough oxygen. You can’t smell, taste, or see it, so detecting it without special equipment is basically impossible.
Even small amounts can harm you if you breathe it in over time.
Properties and Characteristics
Carbon monoxide (CO) is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Since you can’t see or smell it, people usually don’t realize they’re breathing it in.
It’s slightly lighter than air, so it mixes quickly throughout a room or house. Once it’s released, it spreads fast.
CO forms when fossil fuels or other carbon materials burn incompletely. That happens when there isn’t enough oxygen to fully turn fuel into carbon dioxide.
CO binds to hemoglobin in your blood way more easily than oxygen does. That means your body can’t carry enough oxygen, which leads to symptoms like headaches or, in bad cases, passing out.
Common Sources in Homes
Many everyday appliances can produce carbon monoxide if you use them unsafely or they’re not working right.
Typical household sources include:
- Gas furnaces and water heaters
- Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces
- Gas stoves and ovens
- Portable generators
- Charcoal grills used indoors or in enclosed areas
Blocked chimneys, cracked heat exchangers, or poor ventilation all increase the risk. Even equipment that seems fine can create CO if you run it in a closed space without fresh air.
During power outages, risk goes up because people use backup heating or power sources that burn fuel. Running a generator in a garage or near open windows can send dangerous CO inside quickly.
How Carbon Monoxide Exposure Occurs
People get exposed to carbon monoxide by breathing air that contains it. Indoors, CO often builds up when fuel-burning equipment runs without enough ventilation.
Small, enclosed spaces trap the gas more easily. If you use a portable heater in a sealed room or run a vehicle in a closed garage, CO can pile up fast.
CO replaces oxygen in your bloodstream, cutting off oxygen to your tissues and organs. This can happen slowly over hours or, if levels are high, within minutes.
Wind and weather can affect how CO moves outdoors. That matters if you put generators or grills near doors or windows.
The Connection Between Power Outages and Carbon Monoxide Risks
When electricity goes out, people often turn to alternative power and heating. Many of these devices release carbon monoxide (CO), which can build up fast in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
If you don’t act quickly, prolonged exposure can make you sick or worse.
Why Power Outages Increase Carbon Monoxide Dangers
During a power outage, homes lose electric heating, cooking, and lighting. People often grab portable generators, gas stoves, charcoal grills, or kerosene heaters as substitutes.
All of these can emit CO if you don’t use them right.
Generators cause a lot of CO exposure after storms. If you put them indoors, in garages, or too close to windows, exhaust fumes can drift inside.
Poor ventilation in cold weather makes things worse. Closed windows and doors trap CO, letting levels rise quickly. Even short-term exposure in these conditions can be dangerous.
Typical Scenarios That Lead to Exposure
Several common situations during outages raise the chance of CO poisoning:
| Scenario | Risk Factor |
|---|---|
| Generator in garage or basement | Exhaust gases enter the home |
| Charcoal grill used indoors | High CO output with no ventilation |
| Running a car in an enclosed space | CO buildup in attached garages |
| Indoor use of camping stoves or heaters | Designed for outdoor use only |
Most exposures happen in the first one to three days after a storm or blackout. That’s when people rely on temporary fuel-burning devices without thinking much about safety.
Snowstorms can trap vehicle exhaust when tailpipes get blocked, creating another CO hazard.
Vulnerable Populations During Outages
Some groups face bigger risks during CO incidents. Children breathe faster than adults, so they can absorb more CO quickly.
Older adults might already have health issues that make them more sensitive to even low CO levels.
People living in substandard housing might not have good ventilation or safe heating. Communities with fewer resources may be more likely to use unsafe appliances during outages.
Households that depend on electricity-powered medical equipment sometimes put generators too close to living spaces, raising the risk. Awareness and placing equipment safely really matter for these folks.
Recognizing and Responding to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can happen fast during power outages if people use fuel-burning devices indoors or in closed spaces.
Spotting the signs early and acting quickly can prevent serious harm.
Symptoms of CO Poisoning
CO poisoning symptoms can start off mild and often look like the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), early signs include:
| Mild to Moderate Symptoms | Severe Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Headache | Confusion |
| Dizziness | Loss of coordination |
| Nausea | Chest pain |
| Fatigue | Seizures |
| Shortness of breath | Loss of consciousness |
Symptoms can get worse the longer you’re exposed. Children, older adults, and people with heart or lung problems might get very sick sooner.
If several people in the same place start feeling sick at once—especially if there’s no fever—think about CO. Pets can show signs like weakness or vomiting before people do.
Immediate Steps If Exposure Is Suspected
If you suspect CO poisoning, don’t wait.
- Move to fresh air, and leave the building or enclosed space immediately.
- Call emergency services (911 in the U.S.), and tell them you think it’s CO exposure.
- Don’t go back in until professionals say it’s safe.
Get medical help even if you feel better outside. CO can stick around in your bloodstream and cause problems later, like memory or mood issues.
If you can, turn off any fuel-burning appliances from a safe spot. Open doors and windows to ventilate, but only if you can do it quickly and without delaying your exit.
Portable CO detectors can warn you early, but you still need to act fast if symptoms appear.
High-Risk Appliances and Activities During Power Outages
Certain fuel-burning devices and heating methods can release dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) if you use them without good ventilation. The risks get worse if you run them indoors or too close to living spaces—especially during long power outages.
Portable Generators and Engines
Portable generators burn gasoline, diesel, or propane and produce CO as a byproduct. If you run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near open windows, CO can reach unsafe levels fast.
The safest move is to put generators at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. Point the exhaust away from your home.
Engines on pressure washers, water pumps, or vehicles can also create high CO levels. Even with doors open, garages don’t give enough ventilation to run these safely.
Key safety tips:
- Only use them outdoors on dry surfaces.
- Keep them covered from rain, but never enclose them.
- Install battery-powered CO detectors inside your home.
Improper Use of Stoves and Heating Systems
Gas stoves, ovens, and unvented space heaters can emit CO if you use them for heat. These appliances are really just for short-term cooking, not for warming up your house.
If you use them for warmth, you also raise the risk of fire and might damage the appliance. Ventilation fans usually can’t remove enough CO to keep you safe indoors.
Furnaces and other heating systems that burn fossil fuels need regular inspections. A blocked flue or damaged vent pipe can leak CO into your home.
Avoid:
- Leaving burners on just for heat.
- Using propane or kerosene heaters without proper ventilation.
- Running faulty or unmaintained heating equipment.
Risks from Wood and Charcoal Burning
Burning wood or charcoal indoors without proper venting is a big CO hazard. Fireplaces, wood stoves, and pellet stoves need working chimneys or flues to vent exhaust outside.
Never use charcoal grills and camp stoves inside homes, tents, or vehicles. Even partially open spaces like porches or sheds can trap CO.
If you use a wood-burning appliance, check that the chimney is clean and clear. Smoldering fires make more CO than hot, well-ventilated fires.
Remember:
- Only burn fuel in approved, vented equipment.
- Never use charcoal indoors, period.
Preventive Measures and Safety Tips
Carbon monoxide can build up fast when fuel-burning devices run in closed or poorly ventilated spaces. During power outages, risk increases as people turn to generators, stoves, and alternative heating for warmth or electricity.
Safe operation and smart placement make a huge difference in preventing dangerous exposure.
Safe Placement and Use of Generators
Always put portable generators outdoors and at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents. That distance helps keep exhaust fumes from drifting inside.
Never use them in garages, basements, sheds, or under covered patios—even if you leave doors or windows open. CO can build up in these spaces within minutes.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions for fuel, refueling, and maintenance. Let generators cool down before you refuel to cut fire risk.
A battery-powered CO detector inside your home adds another layer of protection if you’re running a generator.
Ensuring Adequate Ventilation
Fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves, fireplaces, and heating systems, need to vent outdoors. Inspect vents, chimneys, and flues every year for blockages, corrosion, or disconnects.
Sometimes during outages, people block vents to keep heat in, but that can trap carbon monoxide. Fresh air flow is essential with any combustion-based appliance.
If you’re using temporary heating or cooking devices, set them up so exhaust has a clear path outside. Don’t put them near air intakes, since fumes can get sucked back inside.
Cracking a window while using these devices helps, but it’s not a replacement for proper venting.
Proper Use of Alternative Heating Sources
Never use charcoal grills, camp stoves, or fuel-fired heaters inside homes, garages, or enclosed porches. These devices put out a lot of CO and need open air.
If you use a fireplace or wood stove, make sure the damper is open and the chimney is clear. Keep a CO detector nearby to warn you of dangerous levels.
Don’t use gas ovens or stovetops to heat your space. They’re not built for continuous use and can make CO levels unsafe indoors fast.
When possible, pick heating sources with built-in safety shutoffs or oxygen sensors.
Importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors give you an early warning when dangerous gas levels start to build up indoors. They help prevent poisoning by alerting you before symptoms turn serious.
You need to place them correctly, keep them maintained, and actually pay attention to how they work if you want them to protect you.
How CO Detectors Work
A carbon monoxide (CO) detector keeps an eye on the air for CO gas at all times. Most home models rely on electrochemical sensors, which set off an alarm when CO reaches a certain level.
That alarm gets loud—loud enough to wake you up if you’re sleeping, so you’ve got a chance to get outside and breathe fresh air.
You’ll find some detectors that run on batteries, while others get hardwired into your home’s electrical system and usually have a battery backup. Both types work well if you install and maintain them properly.
CO detectors can’t actually stop the gas from forming, but they’ll alert you when it’s there. They’re pretty much essential, especially during power outages when people tend to use generators or fuel-burning heaters.
Where to Install CO Detectors
Where you put the detector really matters for catching CO early.
Install detectors:
- On every level of your home, including the basement.
- Outside each sleeping area so you’ll hear alarms at night.
- Near (but not right above) any fuel-burning appliances.
Don’t put detectors right next to windows, vents, or fans, since airflow there can mess with the readings.
If you have more than one floor, make sure there’s at least one detector on each.
In smaller homes or apartments, one unit might cover a couple of spaces, but sometimes local building codes want more.
During power outages, don’t ever use garages or enclosed porches for running generators. If you have to go into those spaces, bringing a portable CO detector gives you a little extra protection.
Maintenance and Testing Guidelines
A CO detector needs to work properly if you want it to save lives. Hit the test button once a month to check the alarm.
Change out the batteries at least once a year, or swap them sooner if you hear the low-battery beep.
Most detectors last about 5 to 7 years. You’ll usually find the replacement date printed on the back.
Dust, paint, and debris can mess with the sensors, so just wipe the detector with a dry cloth now and then. Don’t ever cover it up or paint over it, even if it seems tempting.
Keep a maintenance log with installation dates, battery swaps, and test results. That way, you won’t forget any device.