✔ Backed by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission · HRSA Poison Help · City of Dearborn. Each fact links to its source, and the full list is at the bottom of this post.
Carbon monoxide safety first: if a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, or people in your home feel sick with headache, dizziness, or confusion, get everyone outside into fresh air right away and call 911. Do not go back in until emergency responders say it is safe. For questions about a possible poisoning, you can call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026.[1] Most of us will be thinking about the extra hour of sleep. But the clock change is also a perfect reminder for something that can save a life: a carbon monoxide safety check.
As the weather turns cold, furnaces kick on, fireplaces get lit, and some people pull out space heaters or generators. That is exactly when carbon monoxide risk goes up. The good news is that a few simple habits can protect everyone in your home.
What carbon monoxide is, and why it is so risky
Carbon monoxide, often called CO, is a gas you cannot see or smell. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it can kill without warning.[2] Burning fuel of any kind makes it. Common sources include gas or oil furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, fireplaces, portable generators, charcoal grills, cars, and small engines.[2]
This is not a rare problem. The CDC reports that each year in the U.S., more than 400 people die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit an emergency department, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.[2]
Anyone can be affected. But the CDC says babies, older adults, and people with long-term heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are more likely to get seriously sick.[2] If you care for a parent, live alone, or have a lung or heart condition yourself, this check matters even more.
Know the signs: it can feel like the flu
CO poisoning is easy to miss because it looks like a common bug. The CDC lists headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion as common signs.[2] The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) notes that early signs are similar to the flu, but without a fever.[3]
Also remember that people who are asleep, or who have been drinking or taking sedating medicine, can be harmed before they notice any signs.[2] That is why an alarm is so important. It stays awake when you do not.
Your “fall back” carbon monoxide safety check
The CDC suggests checking your CO detector batteries when you change your clocks each spring and fall.[2] This weekend, take ten minutes and walk through your home.
Here is a short checklist:
- Is there a battery-powered or battery-backup CO alarm near every sleeping area?
- Is there one on every level of the home?
- Did you press the test button and hear it work?
- Did you check the date on the back? Replace alarms as the maker says, or about every 5 years.
- Is each alarm away from heating vents and not blocked by furniture or curtains?
The CDC recommends alarms near sleeping areas and replacing them per the maker’s instructions or every 5 years.[2] The CPSC recommends alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, away from heating vents, and not in kitchens or right above fuel-burning appliances.[3]
If you help an older neighbor or relative, offer to do their check too. You can say: “The clocks change this weekend. Want me to come by and test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms while I’m there?” It is a small visit that can make a big difference.
Carbon monoxide safety habits for heating season
Alarms are your backup. The first line of defense is keeping CO from building up in the first place. The CDC recommends these steps:[2]
Have your furnace, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal appliances checked by a qualified technician every year. Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year too. Make sure gas appliances are vented the right way.
Never use a gas oven to heat your home. Never burn charcoal indoors. Do not use portable camp stoves or flameless chemical heaters inside.
When it is cold, it can be tempting to warm up the car in the garage. Do not do it. The CDC says never run a car or truck inside an attached garage, even with the garage door open. Have your car’s exhaust system checked every year.[2]
Think of Marcus, who just moved into an older rental. He asks the landlord when the furnace was last serviced, and he buys a plug-in CO alarm with a battery backup for the hallway outside the bedrooms. Two small steps, and his family sleeps safer.
Power outages and generators
Winter storms can knock out power, and portable generators are a major CO danger. The CDC is clear: never run a generator inside a home or garage, even with windows and doors open. Run it outside, more than 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents.[2] Make sure your CO alarm has a battery so it still works when the power is out.
If you use medical equipment that needs power, plan ahead now so you are not tempted to bring a generator indoors during a storm. Ask your equipment supplier or care team what your backup options are.
If the alarm sounds
Treat every CO alarm as real. The CPSC says do not try to find the source. Get outside to fresh air, then call 911 or the fire department. Once you are outside, make sure everyone is with you. Do not go back inside until emergency responders say it is okay, and do not use the appliance you think is the problem until it has been checked by a trained professional.[3]
It helps to talk this through with everyone in your home, including kids and anyone who visits often. Pick a meeting spot outside, like the mailbox or a neighbor’s porch. Put the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone.[4]
Tru-Tips: Write the date on a small piece of tape and stick it on the back of each new alarm. Next time you check, you will know right away how old it is.
One Tru Step: On Sunday, November 1, when you set your clocks back, press the test button on every carbon monoxide alarm in your home. If one is missing or more than 5 years old, add a new one to your shopping list.
Let’s talk
Do you have a ritual for clock-change weekend, like testing alarms or swapping batteries? What is one tip that helps you keep your home safe when the weather turns cold? Share it in the comments.
Sources and further reading
- City of Dearborn: Daylight Saving Time Ends, November 1, 2026
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers
- HRSA Poison Help: Calling Poison Help
Sources checked October 23, 2026. General education; individual care and coverage questions require an appropriate professional.
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