Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless, tasteless & odourless gas that can cause harmful & potentially fatal effects. Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, such as gas & oil. This can occur in inadequately maintained or badly fitted domestic heating appliances, such as gas & oil fired boilers & gas fires. If your flue or chimney is blocked, Carbon monoxide (CO) will be unable to escape your home if produced, allowing a dangerous concentration to quickly build up. If carbon monoxide escapes into your home it will cause symptoms that include headaches, breathlessness, drowsiness, vomiting, chest pains, dizziness, vision problems & eventually collapse & loss of consciousness – which can easily be confused with, or misdiagnosed as, flu, fatigue or even food poisoning.
Be aware of the symptoms & be prepared to react if you recognise them in yourself or others. Reducing the risk When was the last time your boiler was serviced? Ensuring that your gas appliances are installed & regularly serviced by Oil & Gas Safe Registered engineers is the first step to safety within your home. Landlords are legally obliged to have an annual safety check completed in every property they let
- & should provide tenants with a copy of the certificate. Please be sure to install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
The sensing technology in a carbon monoxide detector accurately measures the levels of CO & the time of exposure, & is designed to sound before carbon monoxide levels become threatening.