Carbon Monoxide Safety for NYC and Long Island Homes: Alarms, Appliances, and Warning Signs

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced when fuel burns incompletely. You cannot see or smell it, which is why working CO alarms and well-maintained equipment matter in every home with fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage.

Where carbon monoxide comes from

Any appliance that burns fuel can produce CO, especially if it is malfunctioning, poorly vented, or used in an enclosed space. Common sources include:

• Gas or oil boilers and furnaces
• Gas water heaters
• Gas ranges and ovens, especially when used for space heating, which should never be done
• Gas clothes dryers with blocked vents
• Fireplaces and wood stoves with blocked chimneys
• Cars running in attached garages
• Portable generators, grills, and heaters used indoors or too close to windows and doors

Gas leak vs. carbon monoxide: they are different

A gas leak usually has a rotten-egg odor because utilities add an odorant to natural gas. Carbon monoxide has no smell at all. A home can have a CO problem with no gas odor, which is why a gas smell is not a reliable warning for CO. Treat both seriously: for a gas odor, leave and call 911 or the utility; for a CO alarm or symptoms, leave and call 911.

CO alarm requirements in New York

New York State law, often called Amanda's Law, requires carbon monoxide alarms in residential buildings that have fuel-burning appliances or systems or an attached garage, including one- and two-family homes. New York City has its own requirements in its housing and building codes for CO detectors in residential units. Exact placement and type requirements depend on the building and when the alarm was installed, so check with your local building department or, in NYC, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and DOB guidance for your building type.

As a general rule:

• Install CO alarms on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
• Follow the manufacturer's placement instructions.
• Test alarms monthly and replace batteries as recommended.
• Replace alarms at the end of their service life; most have a replacement date printed on them.
• Consider combination smoke and CO alarms where allowed.

Maintenance that lowers the risk

• Annual heating system service. Have boilers and furnaces cleaned and checked before the heating season, including combustion and venting.
• Keep vents and flues clear. Snow, leaves, bird nests, and debris can block side-wall vents and chimneys. After heavy snow, clear exterior vent terminals.
• Chimney checks. Older masonry chimneys connected to gas or oil equipment can deteriorate. A cracked or blocked flue can push exhaust back into the home.
• Dryer vents. Clean lint from the vent duct, not just the lint screen.
• Proper installation. New gas appliances should be installed with correct venting, combustion air, and gas connections by qualified professionals with the required permits.

Warning signs besides alarms

• Soot or yellow-brown staining around appliances or vents.
• A yellow or flickering burner flame instead of a steady blue flame.
• Excess moisture or condensation on windows near heating equipment.
• A pilot light that keeps going out.
• Family members feeling better when they leave home and worse when they return.

Never do these

• Never run a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors, in a garage, or near open windows.
• Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
• Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the door open.
• Never ignore a CO alarm or disconnect it because it is "probably a false alarm."

For landlords and building owners

In multifamily buildings across the five boroughs and on Long Island, owners have obligations to provide and maintain CO detection under state and local rules. Keep records of installation and replacement, respond quickly to tenant reports, and make sure heating equipment and venting are inspected regularly.

From Brooklyn brownstones to Suffolk County ranch homes, the basics are the same: working alarms, maintained equipment, and clear vents.

This article is general information for property owners, not legal or engineering advice. Rules and procedures change; confirm current requirements with the agency or utility involved.