Carbon Monoxide is one of the most poisonous gases and it is undetectable with no smell or taste. Restricted ventilation to a boiler can lead to the production of this gas. Carbon Dioxide is the normal output from a boiler but this can be replaced by Carbon Monoxide with reduced ventilation or a blocked flue.
Tragically there are 30 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths every year and many more injuries although this could be worse without the implementation of ventilation guidelines and adoption of regular boiler servicing.
What will I see if I have a carbon monoxide issue in my home?
Carbon Dioxide production is often a result of incomplete combustion and this can be seen as the deposit of soot discolouring surfaces near your gas appliances. Another way to check for gas burning problems is to inspect pilot lights and see whether they are burning with a yellow or other colour flame rather than the blue light of a well maintained system. Changes in the colour of the pilot light indicate that all is not well with the boiler and it should be serviced as soon as time permits.
What should I do to protect myself and my family from carbon monoxide poisoning ?
Bad ventilation resulting in lack of oxygen leads to the production of poisonous carbon monoxide. Gas boiler combustion problems can be avoided by adopting a regular appliance servicing schedule by trained appliance engineers.
Any engineer you contract to service your gas appliances should be CORGI-registered which will ensure that they have the training required to complete the task to the required standards. Carbon monoxide detectors, carrying a British Standard kite mark, are an important addition to a plan to protect your home against possible poisoning by CO gas.
You should also keep air vents in doors, walls or windows clear – never cover them up to prevent draughts. On several occasions ventilation reviews have discovered air vents which have been blocked by fast growing plants and you should look for this throughout the growing season. If your home has a chimney to provide appliance ventilation look out for birds nests in the spring as the creation of a nest in a chimney which is not being used in the warm weather could completely block the ventilation when required in the winter.
Are there any warning signs of the presence of carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer so be do not delay if you see any warning signs. It is better to act quickly if you spot any symptoms as prevarication could lead to a death.
Take action today and ensure you are able to take action tomorrow. Any member of the family can be affected by carbon monoxide regardless of their age. It is common for pets be be harmed in the same way as humans. Many times Carbon Monoxide poisoning results in typical influenza like symptoms such as: -
persistent headaches
balance problems
fatigue
sickness
Your gas appliances must be inspected by a CORGI registered gas engineer if you see anyone in your home with similar symptoms. Open windows and improve air flow while you wait and ensure that no one stays in the house until the all clear has been given.
Can I buy a carbon monoxide detector ?
Good quality carbon monoxide detectors have a loud alarm and are certified to British Standards. These typically have batteries which will last for up to five years and have a loud alarm which goes off when carbon monoxide is detected giving you time to evacuate the room. Battery powered models with electronic detection are better than the paper based models which use chemical reactions to show a spot on a cardboard detector that changes colour when carbon monoxide levels have increased. Colour change detectors do not have an audible alarm and cannot alert you the moment there is a problem. Also they only last for 6 months and the lower price can be a false economy. The ability to wake you from your sleep at night is an important advantage that battery detectors have over the more passive chemical detectors.=20
Carbon Monoxide detectors are now readily available in the high street being stocked by many types of stores.
