--- title: What To Do When A Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off description: What To Do When A Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off --- ![ThompsonWhite.png](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/2017%20Site%20Images/ThompsonWhite.png?width=315&name=ThompsonWhite.png "ThompsonWhite.png") [![ThompsonSimpleLogo.png](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/2017%20Site%20Images/ThompsonSimpleLogo.png?width=314&name=ThompsonSimpleLogo.png "ThompsonSimpleLogo.png")](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com) ** Gallery ** contact # What To Do When A Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off Posted by [Ben Thompson](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com/blog/author/ben-thompson) on 08.19.10 Last night at 11:15 Kristin and the kids were asleep and I was sitting in my chair watching TV when all of the detectors in the house went off at once and a none too reassuring voice shouted, "Carbon Monoxide Alert...[repeatedly]."  So what are you supposed to do then?  Here's what we did. 1. Open the windows to get fresh air / go outside 2. Get a head count - wake the kids up and make sure everyone is conscious 3. Turn off all sources of combustion (furnace, water heater, gas stove/oven, etc) The only appliance running was our water heater so I turned off the gas supply and then turned the second gas control knob to off. 4. We were pretty sure we were leaving but I chose to reset the alarm...and 3 minutes later it went off again 5. We confirmed our decision to go to a hotel 6. This morning I called my heating and cooling professional to come find the source 7. I called my plumber to price a new water heater (I'm pretty sure that's the culprit - the oldest appliance in the house) and we're due for a new one.  Preferably a direct vent water heater Now there was one step I didn't mention.  Step 4B was to go upstairs and google symptoms of CO poisoning.  Wouldn't you know I instantly got a headache and my stomach felt queezy. :-)  Carbon Monoxide is known as a silent killer.  It is odorless, tasteless, and essentially undetectable.  One possible signal that an appliance is potentially dangerous is that the flame is weak or lazy. Two action steps that I am requesting of you: 1. Get a carbon monoxide detector and hardwired smoke detectors - all of which I prefer to have a licensed electrician install. 2. It's always better to be safe than sorry. 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