FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD) - Some people may be resorting to creative ways to heat their homes.
That could be very dangerous and even life-threatening.
Firefighters strongly discourage you from using your stove, oven or any other kitchen appliance to heat your home.
Mike Drivdahl with Fort Worth Fire says not only can they start fires, they can produce carbon monoxide.
"Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion," says Drivdahl; "and that is anything that is burning and is not burning off the right way, and it is not vented out of your home."
Gas-powered appliances are the main culprits of carbon monoxide poisoning.
"Your stove, your gas dryer, your gas water heater, a generator that you might be running right now if you don't have power," says Drivdahl. "Your car exhaust gives off carbon monoxide."
If carbon monoxide gets into your home, you might not realize it until it's too late.
"Carbon monoxide is odorless, it's tasteless, and you can't see it," says Drivdahl. "So you're not going to know whether or not you have carbon monoxide in your house unless you have a detector."
Especially with rolling blackouts, carbon monoxide detectors that plug into electrical outlets might not be adequate.
"Make sure that if it does plug into the wall that it has a battery backup option," Drivdahl says.