Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous gas with no taste, no colour and no smell. Bad ventilation to a boiler can lead to the production of this gas. The lack of oxygen means that Carbon Monoxide is produced rather than the less dangerous Carbon Dioxide. 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 dangers associated with Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Act quickly and be very cautious if there are any signs of carbon monoxide inhalation in your family.There are no second chances with poisoning from this gas so do not delay if you suspect anything. Be decisive and look after your household straight away. Any member of the family can be affected by carbon monoxide regardless of their age. It is common for pets to be harmed in the same way as humans.

How can I see I have a carbon monoxide problem?

If your gas boiler or gas appliances have indications of discoloration on their surface or on the walls near them you may be seeing some of the results of poor ventilation and production of excess waste gases. You can also check pilot lights and other gas flames that normally burn blue through an inspection chamber if fitted. 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 actions can I take to reduce the chances of Carbon Monoxide poisoning?

Bad ventilation resulting in lack of oxygen leads to the production of poisonous carbon monoxide. Gas appliance 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. You can now buy electronic, battery powered, carbon monoxide detectors which sound an alarm on detection of high levels of the gas. Provision of the recommended ventilation to gas appliances is essential and you should regularly inspect any ventilation vents to ensure that the flow of air can be maintained. Also regularly inspect for plants which might be growing near a vent outside as over the course of a year they can also block them. 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. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors make different sounds. You should ensure that your family are aware of the differences so that they take the correct action when one of your detectors is triggered.

Does carbon monoxide poisoning exhibit any symptoms?

Carbon Monoxide poisoning exhibits symptoms which can appear like other illnesses, for example: -
- frequent headaches
- instability
- fatigue
- billiousness

If you notice symptoms such as these when you have gas appliances in the home, stop using the appliance without delay, increase ventilation to the rooms, take any inhabitants outside and ensure that your gas appliances are inspected by a CORGI registered gas engineer.

When I buy a detector what should I look for?

Preferred CO detectors should contain an audible alarm and be have British Standards certification. Look for a very loud alarm and 5 year battery life as minimum requirements in a CO detector. 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. Chemical detectors have 6 month lifetimes and are not cost effective in the long run as they have to be replaced often. Most importantly the lack of an audible alarm means that this type of detector will not wake you is there is an excess of carbon monoxide produced when you are asleep at night. Both types of alarms are now commonly available in DIY stores.

Are you able to purchase carbon monoxide detectors?

Carbon monoxide detectors can be effective in preventing incidences of carbon monoxide poisoning. In recent years there are several types of detectors becoming available for purchase on the high street. Carbon monoxide detectors 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. Your best protection against exposure to carbon monoxide is the regular servicing of your gas burning appliances. A CO detector will only ever be a backup measure.

Installing a carbon monoxide detector

Carbon monoxide kills through the ongoing absorption of the gas and the gradual reduction of the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. Fitting carbon monoxide detectors can give your family early warning of rising CO levels so that they can escape to fresh air. Carbon monoxide detectors will raise the alarm early, at levels of the gas lower than before a typical, healthy adult would display symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Whilst smoke detectors need to be installed high on the wall or near the ceiling a carbon monoxide detector can be installed lower down. Carbon Monoxide detectors should be installed where the alarm can be heard from your bedroom, you need to be woken quickly should the alarm be triggered.