10/09/2026
Quick question: when did you last test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?
Ontario updated its rules this year. If your home has a gas furnace, water heater, stove, fireplace or attached garage, you now need a CO alarm on every storey, including the basement and floors without bedrooms, plus one outside each sleeping area. This applies to existing homes, not just new builds.
And smoke alarms are still required on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.
Take a few minutes this week:
✅ Press the test button on every smoke and CO alarm
✅ Count your storeys and make sure each one has a CO alarm
✅ Check the date on the back. Smoke alarms need replacing every 10 years, and CO alarms usually sooner, so follow the manufacturer's date.
With furnace season starting, there's no better week to check.