How Surrey is built
- Before 1961 5%
- 1961–1990 34%
- 1991–2000 18%
- 2001 or later 43%
The rule in British Columbia
B.C. doesn't require CO alarms in existing homes; the province recommends them wherever there's a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage, and the building code requires them in new homes.
CO sources in Surrey homes
In the Vancouver area, the main heating energy is natural gas for 42% of households (Statistics Canada, 2023). Any fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage is a potential CO source.
Single-detached houses make up 33% of Surrey's households; many have an attached garage, another reason to put an alarm near the door into the house.
What a CO check involves
- Alarms next to sleeping areas and on every storey, tested monthly and replaced by their end-of-life date (usually 7 to 10 years).
- Annual service of fuel-burning appliances by a licensed technician.
- A combustion spillage test during an energy evaluation, which catches a venting problem before it produces CO.
Our carbon monoxide guide · Combustion safety testing in Surrey
Carbon monoxide testing in Surrey: common questions
Are carbon monoxide alarms mandatory in Surrey?
B.C. doesn't require CO alarms in existing homes; the province recommends them wherever there's a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage, and the building code requires them in new homes.
Where should CO alarms go?
Outside every sleeping area and on every storey, following the manufacturer's instructions. Some rules also call for one near a fuel-burning appliance or the door from an attached garage.
How long do CO alarms last?
Most have an end-of-life date of 7 to 10 years printed on the unit; replace them by then even if they still beep when tested.