Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in a Hotel or Airbnb

You checked into a beachfront Airbnb with your family, spent the evening grilling outside, and woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and nausea. Your partner feels the same way. You blame the seafood — until you step outside and feel better within minutes. Then your teenager mentions the gas water heater in the utility closet smelled "weird" last night. CO incidents in hotels and short-term rentals are uncommon but real, and they are easy to miss because the early symptoms feel like jet lag, dehydration, a hangover, or the flu. This page covers where the risk comes from in lodging, the warning signs travelers should recognize, what to do immediately, and practical prevention steps that are reasonable — not paranoid.

Quick Safety Summary

• CO poisoning can happen in hotels and rentals — faulty gas appliances, poor venting, and attached garages are the typical causes.
• Early symptoms mimic common travel complaints: headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue.
• The key red flag: multiple people feel sick at the same time, and symptoms improve outdoors.
• If you suspect CO: leave immediately, call emergency services, then notify the property.
• Consider bringing a portable CO detector for an extra safety layer.

Where CO Comes From in Lodging

Hotels and rentals share many of the same CO sources as homes, but travelers are at a disadvantage: they do not know the building, cannot inspect the equipment, and may sleep through early warning signs in an unfamiliar environment.

Warning Signs Travelers Should Recognize

CO is odorless and invisible, so you cannot rely on your senses. Instead, watch for patterns:

• Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, chest discomfort, confusion — especially if they start or worsen in the room.
• Symptoms that are worse at night or in the morning after sleeping in the same room.
• Multiple occupants affected at once — family members or travel companions all feeling ill.
• A CO alarm sounding or chirping — do not dismiss unfamiliar beeping in a hotel room. See CO detector beeping for pattern help.
• Improvement when you leave the building — a classic indicator that the indoor environment is the problem.

What to Do Immediately If You Suspect CO

1. Leave the room and building — get to fresh air right away. Do not pack, do not search for the source.
2. Call emergency services if anyone has symptoms or if a CO alarm sounded.
3. Notify the hotel front desk or the host from a safe location outside.
4. Do not re-enter until the area is checked with a calibrated CO meter and cleared.
5. Seek medical evaluation if symptoms occurred — mention possible CO exposure to the medical team.

For a full emergency response checklist: what to do if a CO alarm goes off.

Prevention Tips for Travelers

You do not need to be paranoid — but a few simple habits significantly reduce risk:

• When you arrive, look for smoke and CO alarms in hallways and bedrooms. If none are visible, ask the front desk or host.
• Avoid sleeping in a room with a running fireplace or obvious combustion odors — request a different room.
• Bring a portable CO detector and place it near the bed at breathing height (nightstand).
• If you feel "flu-like" symptoms in the room, do not power through — step outside and reassess. If symptoms improve, do not go back in without investigation.
• Note the location of exits when you check in — useful for any emergency, not just CO.

Before Booking: Questions to Ask

Before confirming a reservation — especially for a rental property with fuel-burning appliances — consider asking the host or property manager these questions:

• Does the property have working carbon monoxide alarms? When were they last tested or replaced?
• What type of heating does the property use? (Gas furnace, propane heater, wood stove, electric — this helps you assess the risk level.)
• Is there an attached garage or enclosed parking area near the unit?
• When were fuel-burning appliances (water heater, furnace, fireplace) last professionally serviced?
• Is there a gas fireplace or wood stove in the unit? If so, has the chimney/flue been inspected recently?

Not every host will have answers to all of these, and that's fine. The fact that you asked signals that safety matters to you and may prompt the host to check. If a property has no CO alarms and uses gas appliances, consider bringing a portable CO detector or choosing a different listing.

On Arrival: Quick Room Checklist

When you arrive at a hotel or rental, a 60-second walk-through can significantly reduce your risk:

1. Look for CO alarms — check hallways and bedrooms. If none are visible, ask the front desk or host. Do hotels have carbon monoxide detectors? Requirements vary by location, so don't assume.
2. Check the alarm status — press the test button if accessible. A chirping alarm may need a battery or be past its expiration date.
3. Glance at vents and appliances — look for soot, staining, or unusual discoloration around any visible heaters, fireplaces, or water heater closets.
4. Note your exits — know how to get out of the building quickly in case of any emergency.
5. Set up your portable detector — if you brought one, place it on the nightstand at breathing height.

Hotels vs Airbnbs: Different Risk Profiles

Large hotels usually have professional maintenance, regular inspections, and building-code-compliant alarm systems. The CO risk, while real, is generally lower because equipment is serviced routinely and shared systems are monitored. Short-term rentals (Airbnbs, VRBOs, cabins) can have a different risk profile:

• Less consistent maintenance — owners may not service gas appliances annually.
• Older equipment — fireplaces, wall heaters, and water heaters in older properties may not meet current safety standards.
• No on-site staff — if something goes wrong at 2 a.m., there is no front desk to call; you are on your own until emergency services arrive.
• Variable alarm coverage — some hosts install alarms per platform guidelines; others do not.

None of this means rentals are unsafe — many are well-maintained. It does mean travelers should take an active role in checking for alarms and knowing the exit plan, rather than assuming institutional safety standards are in place.

A note on regulations: Requirements for carbon monoxide alarms in hotels and short-term rentals vary significantly by country, state, and local jurisdiction. Some areas mandate CO alarms in all lodging; others apply only to buildings with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. If you're unsure whether your accommodation is required to have CO detection, ask the property directly — and consider bringing your own portable detector regardless of local rules.

Reporting and Follow-Up

If you believe you experienced a CO exposure in lodging, documentation helps prevent repeat incidents for other guests:

• Record dates, address, room number, symptoms, and any alarm activations.
• Request that management confirms inspection results and corrective actions in writing.
• If applicable, report to local authorities (fire department or health department) or the booking platform's safety channel.
• If you used a portable CO monitor, save readings and timestamps.

Your report may trigger an inspection that protects the next guest. Many jurisdictions take lodging CO complaints seriously, especially when symptoms or alarm activations are documented.

Sources & References

• CPSC: Carbon Monoxide Information Center
• CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention
• NFPA: Carbon Monoxide Safety

Last updated: February 15, 2026