Keeping safe from carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas, which is
colourless and has no smell. It kills around 50 people a year in
the UK.
Where does it come from?
CO is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels such as gas,
wood, coal and oil. These are fuels which can be found in your home
as they are used in boilers, open or gas fires, water heaters and
solid fuel appliances.
CO becomes dangerous when it accumulates in a room as a result
of poor ventilation or an appliance is not burning fuel properly.
This can happen through wrong installation of the appliance, poor
maintenance or damage.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning ?
There are several overall, which are very similar to flu. People
who have been poisoned by CO experience tiredness, headaches,
cramps, feeling sick, weakness and painfull joints.
What can be done to reduce the risk ?
We will carry out an annual check of all gas appliances that we
provide for you as a tenant using fully-qualified
engineers.
As a tenant you are responsible for your own appliances, such as
your cooker. It is your responsibility to ensure that these are
checked regularly. We would recommend that they are checked on an
annual basis too. Make sure that your home is well ventilated and
that airbricks and flues are not blocked and trickle vents are
working properly.
Install a CO detector, either mains or battery powered, which
are available at all large DIY outlets.
Look out for the signs that an appliance in your home may be
faulty:
- There is an orange or brown stain on the surface of the
appliance or nearby, e.g on the wall.
- On a gas appliance the flame is yellow or orange and is slow
rather than a crisp blue flame that burns steadily.
- You notice high levels of condensation in the room.
What should I do if I think I have CO poisoning ?
Go to your GP for a test – CO is expelled from the body quickly,
so it is important to go straight to your doctor if you
think you have been exposed to CO before levels in your blood
drop.