Written on: November 6, 2014

Identifying carbon monoxide (CO) leaks can be complex because sometimes there are various causes, including:

• operating unvented appliances for long periods of time
• a heating system that’s out of adjustment or damaged
• backdrafts caused by pressure imbalances near the heating appliance
• leaving a vehicle idling in an attached garage
• running a gasoline-powered generator in a basement or attached garage
• a blocked flue

All of these situations could set off a CO detector, but conditions can change by the time a technician arrives, which makes a diagnosis difficult. Help us by sharing as much information as possible so the source of the problem can be identified correctly.