How do I keep my family and myself safe?
Barbeques, grills and outdoor heaters
Do not bring barbeques, grills or outdoor gas heaters into your home. They are for outdoor use only. These items burn fuels like natural gas, wood, and charcoal (beads or briquettes).
If you use these items inside, carbon monoxide can quickly build up to dangerous levels.
Check an item’s instructions to see if you should use it inside or outside.
Barbecues and grills
Outdoor heaters
Petrol engines
Do not use items with petrol engines inside your home or garage, even with doors or windows open.
Some items that can have petrol engines are:
Cars and boats
Pressure washers and concrete saws
Generators
Gas heaters
If you use a gas heater in your home:
- check the instructions to make sure that you can use the heater inside the house
- make sure that a registered gas fitter checks the heater at least every two years
- think about putting in a carbon monoxide alarm to warn you if levels begin to rise. A carbon monoxide alarm is different to a smoke alarm.
How do I put in a carbon monoxide alarm?
If you decide to put a carbon monoxide alarm in your home, you should:
- choose a carbon monoxide alarm that says it meets standards in the USA (UL2034) or Europe (EN50291)
- put carbon monoxide alarms near all the bedrooms and rooms with gas heaters in your home
- follow the instructions for installing, maintaining and using the carbon monoxide alarm.
How can I heat my home safely?
Check out these websites to learn more about safe ways to heat your house:
