Act now
Leave now: a carbon monoxide warning
A carbon monoxide alarm, or headache, dizziness or nausea in anyone at home, means get everyone outside to fresh air now and call 911 from outside.
Why this happens
Carbon monoxide is a gas you cannot see or smell. CPSC lists headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness and confusion as signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, and Kidde says that if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home right away. A heater with no hot water can wait; getting everyone into fresh air cannot.
Do this now
- Get everyone outside to fresh air now. CPSC says that if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get outside to fresh air right away and then call 911.
- Call 911 from outside.
- Stay outside, and do not go back in to turn the heater off or for anything else. NFPA says that when a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, you should stay outside until emergency personnel say it is safe to go back in.
- If you smell gas at any point, also call your gas utility from outside.
- Once emergency personnel say it is safe, have a licensed plumber, a water heater technician or your gas company check the heater before anyone uses it again.
When to stop. Headache, dizziness, nausea or a carbon monoxide alarm: get everyone outside to fresh air, call 911 and stay outside until emergency personnel say it is safe to go back in. Any gas smell: leave and call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
What to tell the plumber
- That a carbon monoxide alarm went off or someone had symptoms, and when.
- That the gas water heater had no hot water.
- What the emergency crew found, if they told you.
- The make, model and age of the heater from its data plate.
Build the full list: what to tell the plumber.
Start this troubleshooter over
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