¿Hay monóxido de carbono en tu casa? Así puedes saberlo con certeza
✓ Tu preocupación es comprensible. El monóxido de carbono: riesgo crítico para la salud — hacer la prueba es la única forma de confirmar tu nivel de exposición.
No estás exagerando. Este peligro es invisible e inodoro; la EPA recomienda que todos los propietarios hagan la prueba sin importar la edad o el estado de la casa.
El kit de prueba de abajo puede decirte en 48 horas si tu casa tiene niveles elevados. Hacer la prueba es la única forma de saberlo con certeza.Detalles (en inglés): la información técnica detallada a continuación se mantiene en inglés.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a critical-severity indoor air quality hazard that the EPA classifies as requiring immediate action. It is most commonly found in kitchen, garage, basement and originates from gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters.
CO is a silent killer — colorless, odorless, and lethal at high concentrations. It binds to hemoglobin 200x more than oxygen. Every home with fuel-burning appliances needs a CO detector.
Prefer a free assessment first? Take the Air Quality Risk Score Quiz →
Síntomas a vigilar
If you or your family members are experiencing any of these, carbon monoxide (co) could be the cause:
Datos de referencia rápida
| Hazard | Carbon Monoxide (CO) |
| EPA Severity | CRITICAL |
| Common Sources | gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, cars in attached garages, portable generators |
| Affected Areas | kitchen, garage, basement, laundry, bedroom, dining-room, hallway |
| Health Symptoms | headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, shortness of breath, blurred vision, loss of consciousness |
| EPA Recommendation | Install CO detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Never run generators indoors. Have fuel-burning appliances inspected annually. If alarm sounds, evacuate immediately and call 911. |
Your Children Breathe 20,000 Liters of This Air Every Day
Kids breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Their lungs are still developing. If carbon monoxide (co) is in your home, they're getting a higher dose than you are. You childproof cabinets and plug outlets — but have you checked what they're breathing?
⚠️ The EPA estimates indoor air can be 2–5× more polluted than outdoor air. Your family breathes 20,000 liters of indoor air every day.
If carbon monoxide (co) is present, every breath could be doing damage you can't see or feel — until it's too late.
Dónde se esconde en tu casa
Common Sources
- • gas stoves
- • furnaces
- • water heaters
- • fireplaces
- • cars in attached garages
- • portable generators
Affected Rooms
Lo que recomienda la EPA
EPA-Recommended Actions
Install CO detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Never run generators indoors. Have fuel-burning appliances inspected annually. If alarm sounds, evacuate immediately and call 911.
Fuentes y citas
- 📎 EPA — Carbon Monoxide
- 📎 CDC — CO Poisoning
- 📎 EPA — Indoor Air Quality (general)
All data on this page is based on publicly available information from the cited sources. This page is not endorsed by the EPA, CDC, or WHO.
📋 Our Testing Methodology
Hazard severity classifications follow the EPA's Indoor Air Quality assessment framework:
- • Critical: Immediate health risk — evacuate and contact emergency services
- • High: Chronic exposure risk — test within 1 week, remediate within 30 days
- • Moderate: Potential risk — test to confirm, address if confirmed
Product recommendations are based on published detection accuracy, third-party test results, and EPA-recommended testing methods. Updated May 2026.
Kits de prueba y protección
EPA recommends testing as the first step for any suspected carbon monoxide (co) exposure. These are the tools most homeowners start with.
Orientación basada en publicaciones de la EPA, los CDC y Health Canada.
Your Home Air Defense Kit
These 3 items help you monitor and improve your indoor air.
Your home may have hidden hazards you can't see, smell, or taste.
Our Room-by-Room Scanner checks every corner of your home for 20+ air quality hazards.
Scan My Home Now →One more thing — your home may have related hazards
If your home has carbon monoxide (co), there's a chance it also has gas stove emissions (no2 and benzene). Both can thrive in the same conditions. When you test for one, check for the others too.
Peligros relacionados
Gas Stove Emissions (NO2 and Benzene)
Gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide and benzene even when turned off. A 2022 study linked gas stoves to 1 in 8 childhood asthma cases. Benzene is a known carcinogen that spreads throughout the home.
Attached Garage Air Contamination
Car exhaust, gasoline vapors, and stored chemicals from attached garages seep into living spaces. A running car in an attached garage raises CO levels in the home within minutes, even with the garage door open.
Radon Gas
Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer after smoking. It seeps from soil into basements and crawl spaces. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. The only way to know is to test.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Gas produced by gas stoves and heaters. Causes airway inflammation at elevated levels. NO2 irritates the respiratory tract and worsens asthma. Children and elderly are most vulnerable. Even short-term exposure at moderate levels can trigger symptoms.
Comparación de el monóxido de carbono con peligros relacionados
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is classified as CRITICAL — the highest severity tier for indoor air hazards. Of the 4 related hazards we track, 3 carry a lower severity rating. This means carbon monoxide (co) should be your top testing priority if you suspect any indoor air quality issue.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) poses a higher immediate risk than Gas Stove Emissions (NO2 and Benzene). While both require attention, carbon monoxide (co) is classified as critical severity versus gas stove emissions (no2 and benzene)'s high rating. If you test for one, the EPA recommends testing for the other simultaneously — they share common areas like kitchen, bedroom, dining room.
Shared locations: kitchen, bedroom, dining room, hallway
Common causes: gas stoves
Carbon Monoxide (CO) poses a higher immediate risk than Attached Garage Air Contamination. While both require attention, carbon monoxide (co) is classified as critical severity versus attached garage air contamination's high rating. If you test for one, the EPA recommends testing for the other simultaneously — they share common areas like garage, kitchen, bedroom.
Shared locations: garage, kitchen, bedroom, basement, hallway
Both Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Radon Gas carry the same critical severity classification. Their combined presence in your home creates a compounding effect that exceeds the risk of either alone. Both are commonly found in basement, bedroom, dining room. Addressing one without testing for the other leaves a blind spot in your home's air quality.
Shared locations: basement, bedroom, dining room
Carbon Monoxide (CO) poses a higher immediate risk than Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). While both require attention, carbon monoxide (co) is classified as critical severity versus nitrogen dioxide (no2)'s moderate rating. If you test for one, the EPA recommends testing for the other simultaneously — they share common areas like kitchen, basement, bedroom.
Shared locations: kitchen, basement, bedroom, garage, dining room, hallway
Common causes: fireplaces
Severity classifications follow EPA Indoor Air Quality assessment standards. Related hazards share environmental conditions but may require different testing methods.
Qué significan tus resultados de la prueba de el monóxido de carbono
After testing for carbon monoxide (co), you'll receive a measurement or a positive/negative result. Here's how to interpret what that number means for your home and family.
No Detection / Clear
No carbon monoxide (co) was detected in your test. Your home is currently clear of this specific hazard.
What to do: Re-test annually or after any renovation, water damage, or structural change. Carbon Monoxide (CO) can appear at any time due to gas stoves or furnaces.
Trace Detection
Trace amounts of carbon monoxide (co) were found. Even at low levels, a critical-severity hazard like this warrants prompt investigation of gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters.
What to do: Locate and eliminate the source immediately. Install CO detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. If you cannot identify the source, contact a licensed professional.
Elevated / At Action Level
Your test shows elevated carbon monoxide (co) at or above the EPA action level. At this concentration, the health risk is significant and immediate steps are required.
What to do: Do not delay. Install CO detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Contact a licensed remediation professional within 24 hours. Evacuate if you experience headache or dizziness.
Interpretation guidelines are based on EPA standards for chemical hazards. For carbon monoxide (co), install co detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Always confirm results with a certified professional.
Preguntas de propietarios sobre el monóxido de carbono
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide (co)?
Common symptoms of carbon monoxide (co) include: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, shortness of breath, blurred vision, loss of consciousness. If you are experiencing these symptoms, test your home and consult a healthcare provider.
How do I test my home for carbon monoxide (co)?
Common sources include: gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, cars in attached garages, portable generators. You can test using the products recommended above. Install CO detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Never run generators indoors. Have fuel-burning appliances inspected annually. If alarm sounds, evacuate immediately and call 911.
Is carbon monoxide (co) dangerous to children?
Yes. Children are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide (co) because their respiratory systems are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. CO is a silent killer — colorless, odorless, and lethal at high concentrations. It binds to hemoglobin 200x more than oxygen. Every home with fuel-burning appliances needs a CO detector.
Stop wondering.
Start knowing.
The data is clear. The next step is testing.
The EPA notes that carbon monoxide (co) can only be confirmed through testing — it's often invisible and odorless. A test kit or monitor gives you a real number instead of a guess.
1 in 15 US homes has elevated radon levels — the only way to know is to test.
Take the free Air Quality Risk Score quiz and find out what's lurking in your home.
Medical & Environmental Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes and is based on EPA and CDC guidelines. It is not a substitute for professional environmental testing, medical advice, or remediation services. If you suspect a gas leak or carbon monoxide emergency, evacuate immediately and call 911.
Maren K. Solberg
Residential Air Quality Researcher · 10+ Years Investigating Home Environmental Hazards
Garrison F. Hale has spent over a decade researching residential air quality hazards, including mold, VOCs, radon, and combustion byproducts. He translates complex EPA and CDC guidance into clear, actionable steps for homeowners.
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