What will I see if I have a carbon monoxide issue in my home?
Gas combustion in an oxygen poor atmosphere can produce visible deposits which can discolour gas appliances and the walls surrounding them. A yellow pilot light is an indication of a problem in the gas combustion chamber which may be caused by a lack of oxygen through poor ventilation. Treat the pilot light like a traffic light, if it turns yellow this is a warning and you should arrange for the boiler to be serviced as quickly as you can.
Can the general public purchase carbon monoxide monitor?
Accumulated exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to death and CO detectors can give early warning of carbon monoxide production in the home. In recent years there are several types of monitors becoming available for purchase on the high street. Carbon monoxide monitors trigger an alarm based on an accumulation of carbon monoxide over time. CO detectors are not yet as reliable as the smoke detectors in your home but the technology is becoming more reliable and they are an important early warning mechanism. You should ensure you have regular servicing of your appliances and treat your carbon monoxide detector as a secondary, backup measure. It is not your first line of defense.
What features will a good monitor have?
Preferred CO monitors should contain an audible alarm and be have British Standards certification. Key points for these alarms are a 5 year plus battery and the loud alarm alerting family members to the presence of carbon monoxide to the need to get to fresh air. If you have a choice pay more to get the battery powered electronic detectors rather than chemical based models using chemical reactions and colour changes to show an alarm as these may not be noticed in time. Chemical CO monitors loose their effectiveness after 6 months and have to be changed, this increases the lifetime cost and puts you at risk if you forget to change the detector when it has expired. The ability to wake you from your sleep at night is an important advantage that battery detectors have over the more passive chemical detectors. Both types of monitors are now commonly available in DIY stores.
Installing a carbon monoxide monitor
The installation of CO detectors give a warning to people in a building of unhealthy or dangerous levels of CO before the symptoms of CO poisoning occur. The levels at which carbon monoxide detectors are triggered are measured against the level of gas that would start to harm a healthy adult. As such you need to act quickly when children could have been exposed to the emissions as they can be harmed by lower levels of the gas. Carbon monoxide detectors have installation requirements separate from those of smoke detectors and do not need to be installed at the top of a wall or on the ceiling. For maximum effectiveness during sleeping hours, carbon monoxide detectors should be placed close to sleeping areas.
Check your carbon monoxide detectors frequently
As with all safety equipment a detector should be tested throughout the year to make sure that it is working effectively. Detectors should come with instructions detailing the steps to take to check the effective functioning of the detector. A detector should be checked at least once per month to confirm it is working properly, if it fails replace it with a new detector without delay. The ‘test’ feature on many detectors checks the functioning of the alarm and not the status of the detector. After 48 months (2 years) some detectors may need to be replaced and you should check how long your detector will operate. Some models of detector have lifespans up to 5 years some are mains powered, others are battery powered. You should shop around to select the model that meets your needs. Some detectors incorporate smoke detection and also carbon monoxide gas detection. They will have their own installation instructions which you should follow closely.
Carbon Monoxide is one of the most poisonous gases and it is undetectable with no smell or taste. Bad ventilation to a boiler can lead to the production of this gas. Properly balanced ventilation will result in Carbon Dioxide output, Carbon Monoxide will result if the level of oxygen is restricted with reduced airflow or a blocked flue. With high standards of boiler servicing and strict ventilation regulations the number of people killed by Carbon Monoxide has reduced to 30 people each year although many more are seriously injured.
What are the risks with CO poisoning?
Carbon monoxide kills so do not take any risks if you suspect you may be suffering from inhalation of the gas. Do not read this or other articles and form your own judgment. Be decisive and look after your household straight away. Any member of the family can be affected by carbon monoxide regardless of their age. Pets can also be impacted.
Are there any warning signs of the presence of carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide absorption can result in the following symptoms: -
* regular incidences of headaches
* loss of balance
* fatigue
* sickness
A CORGI certified gas engineer should be brought in to inspect your gas boilers and appliances if you notice these symptoms in your family. Whilst waiting for the engineer to arrive you should ensure that you have opened the windows and everyone has left the house.
How do I protect my family from Carbon Monoxide and potential poisoning?
As mentioned carbon monoxide is produced when a gas flame burns with insufficient oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere. On the assumption that there are no design faults in the ventilation of your boiler, frequent boiler and gas appliance servicing will help to avoid any problems which could lead to the production of carbon monoxide. 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. Air ventilation bricks and panels should be kept clear and checked throughout the year to make sure that the planned air flow is maintained to your gas appliances. 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. And make sure your chimney doesn’t become blocked with birds’ nests or other debris. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and CO alarms. If the CO detector alarm goes off make sure it is your CO detector and not your smoke detector.
