San Francisco, CA – If you’ve felt unexpectedly dizzy, lightheaded, or unusually tired this spring, safety officials in Northern California say it may be worth checking more than your sleep schedule or work stress.
According to fire safety and public health officials, mild carbon monoxide exposure often begins with symptoms that feel easy to dismiss — especially during late winter and early spring, when cool nights keep heating systems in use even as daytime temperatures rise.
“Dizziness and headaches are often the earliest signs,” officials say. “And carbon monoxide is rarely the first thing people think about.”
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces, gas stoves, and other fuel-burning appliances. Because it provides no smell or visible warning, exposure can build gradually inside homes and apartments.
Emergency responders across the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley, including incidents reported in San Francisco and Sacramento, note that many residents experiencing early symptoms initially assume fatigue, dehydration, seasonal illness, or burnout.
Officials say spring warm-ups can increase risk across Northern California. Heating systems may still run overnight during cooler evenings, even as windows are opened during the day. That on-and-off use can allow ventilation or equipment issues to go unnoticed.
Symptoms often begin subtly: dizziness, nausea, fatigue, confusion, or a lingering headache that doesn’t feel typical. During long evenings indoors — including gatherings to watch major events like the big game — those warning signs are especially easy to ignore.
By the time carbon monoxide alarms sound — if they’re installed and working — exposure may already be serious.
Officials stress that carbon monoxide doesn’t follow seasons or regions. It follows conditions.
As Northern California moves deeper into spring, safety experts urge residents to take unexplained symptoms seriously, test carbon monoxide detectors, and avoid assuming milder weather means lower risk.
Sometimes, how you feel is the first warning.
