Frigid temperatures have been lingering throughout most of Southern Alberta for close to two weeks now with wind chill values below minus 40.

While it has been ingrained in us to dress appropriately for the outdoor elements, we often forget about the elevated dangers inside our homes.

According to Fire Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire Services, when extremely cold weather strikes there's a greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

"With these temperatures, we're going to see a little bit of an increase in carbon monoxide calls," explains Avery."A few ways to get around that are of course make sure your carbon monoxide detector works in your home, as well as go outside and have a look at your air intake. A lot of times you'll start to see those freeze over so make sure those are completely open."

It sounds simple enough but it's an extremely common oversight, and many aren't sure what to look for. Avery recommends taking a walk around the outside of your home, checking for any ice buildup around exhaust pipes and clearing it.

With furnaces and fireplaces working overtime, Avery stresses the importance of staying on top of maintenance to ensure venting is happening outside your home properly.

Avery says that people too often underestimate the risk associated with leaving vehicles running in their garages, and that is perhaps the number one cause of carbon monoxide dangers in the home.

"Never leave your vehicle running inside your garage because that exhaust can get sucked into your home pretty quick."

Although cold weather brings an increased risk, carbon monoxide exposures happen throughout the year, resulting from sources other than gas appliances and heating systems.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas, that can easily be undetected without proper equipment.

Avery says that having a carbon monoxide detector in your home is as important as having a smoke detector, he says the cost is minimal and they can be purchased just about anywhere.