As furnaces and fireplaces return to regular use, fall is a good time for Schomberg homeowners to check every carbon monoxide alarm in the house. Ontario expanded its CO-alarm placement requirements on January 1, 2026, so an alarm near the bedrooms may no longer be the only one your home needs.
What changed in Ontario in 2026?
The updated Ontario Fire Code requirements apply to existing houses—including detached and semi-detached homes, townhouses and cottages—when the home has any of the following:
- a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural gas, propane, oil or wood furnace, water heater or stove;
- a fireplace;
- an attached garage; or
- heated air supplied by a fuel-burning appliance outside the home, such as equipment in a utility shed.
If one of those conditions applies, Ontario now requires a CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area and on every storey of the home, including floors without bedrooms. Install each alarm according to its manufacturer’s instructions. Apartments, condominiums and multi-unit buildings have additional rules, so owners and residents should review the province’s guidance for their building type.
A practical CO-alarm check for your home
- Walk through every floor. Confirm that each storey has an alarm and that one is located in the hallway or area adjacent to every sleeping area.
- Check the certification mark. Ontario advises choosing alarms that meet Canadian performance standards and display a recognized testing-agency mark, such as CSA, ULC or ETL.
- Press the test button monthly. Make sure everyone in the household can hear the alarm and recognizes how its emergency signal differs from a smoke alarm.
- Read the date and instructions. Replace batteries and the alarm itself according to the manufacturer’s directions. A chirp may indicate a low battery or an end-of-life warning; the manual explains the sound pattern for your model.
- Keep the instructions accessible. Family members should know what the emergency signal sounds like and what to do before an alarm ever activates.
What should you do if a CO alarm sounds?
Treat an emergency CO alarm as urgent: get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911. Do not stay inside to search for the source. Headache, nausea, dizziness, unusual fatigue, drowsiness or confusion can be signs of exposure, but carbon monoxide itself has no colour, smell or taste. Wait for emergency responders to say it is safe before going back inside.
Learn the difference between the emergency alarm, a low-battery chirp and an end-of-life signal from your manufacturer’s instructions. If you are unsure which sound you heard, move to fresh air and contact emergency services rather than guessing.
Alarms are essential, but they do not replace maintenance
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority recommends having fuel-burning appliances inspected and maintained annually by a TSSA-registered contractor. A qualified technician can examine the furnace and its venting, test operation and identify safety concerns that are not visible to a homeowner.
Homeowners can also keep the area around equipment clear and visually check that outdoor intake and exhaust openings are not blocked. Do not open the furnace cabinet, adjust gas components or attempt electrical repairs yourself.
Before the first long heating run
Use this short sequence: verify alarm coverage on every floor, test each unit, review its expiry date, and arrange professional heating maintenance if it is due. For questions about the specific Fire Code requirements for your home, contact your local fire department.
If your furnace needs a safety and performance check, review our heating and cooling services or call Schomberg Heating & Cooling at (905) 939-2350. Please call rather than relying on the website form while its email delivery is being verified.