Hidden CO Risks: Water Heaters, Garages and Pool Heaters

A car produces the most carbon monoxide when it first starts up, so even a quick start can fill the garage. If the furnace is installed in the garage, a small air leak at the filter slot or a single screw hole can pull that CO into the system and distribute it throughout the house. Pool heaters and other gas appliances are another hidden danger. People die from pool heater CO poisoning even in warm places like the Bahamas, where nobody needs home heating. Hotels carry similar risks: the first floor is often where the pool equipment, heaters, and gas appliances sit, which makes it one of the most dangerous floors to stay on.

The takeaway for technicians: wear a personal low-level CO monitor at all times. You’ll be surprised how often it alarms in hotels, restaurants, hardware stores, and even your own work van. It warns you long before you start feeling symptoms.