A blocked vent or chimney can allow carbon monoxide to build up inside a home even when the appliance it serves is working properly, Norfolk County firefighters are warning.
The fire department is using Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week to remind residents to check outdoor vents and chimneys for snow, nests and other debris that could prevent exhaust from escaping.
Carbon monoxide cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. A working carbon monoxide alarm can warn people before they realize the gas is present.
Ontario recommends testing alarms monthly and replacing them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The province also recommends having fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents professionally cleaned and inspected each year before cold weather sets in.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone out of the home immediately and call 911 from outside.
More information, including where alarms are required, is available at Ontario.ca/CarbonMonoxide.
