|
Carbon Monoxide – un-serviced gas
appliances can kill!
Every year around 30 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning
caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly
installed or maintained. Many others also suffer ill health.
When gas does not burn properly, as with other fuels such
as coal, wood or oil, excess carbon monoxide is produced,
which is poisonous.
You can’t see it. You can’t taste it. You can’t
even smell it. But carbon monoxide can kill without warning
in just a matter of hours.
You are particularly at risk when you are sleeping because you
cannot recognise the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
These include tiredness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, pains
in the chest and stomach pains. These symptoms can mimic many
common ailments and may easily be confused with flu or simple
tiredness.
If you or your family experience the above symptoms, and you
believe carbon monoxide may be involved, you must seek urgent
medical advice. Your doctor will need to test a blood or breath
sample. Carbon monoxide quickly leaves the blood and tests
may be inaccurate if taken more than four hours after exposure
has ended.
You are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if:
 |
Your appliance was poorly installed; |
|
|
|
Your appliance is not working properly; |
|
|
|
Your appliance has not been checked for safety or maintained
regularly; |
|
|
|
There is not enough fresh air in the room; |
|
|
|
Your chimney or flue gets blocked up; or |
|
|
|
You allow non-CORGI-registered engineers to install or maintain
your appliance(s). |
There is a particular risk if you sleep in a room where an
appliance, which is not of the room-sealed type (eg a conventional
gas fire), is left burning at night. (Flue outlets for room-sealed
appliances are commonly located on an external wall at a low
level protected by a cage rather than at or above roof level.)
Never use a gas appliance if you think it is not working properly.
Signs to look out for include yellow or orange flames (except
for fuel-effect fires which display this colour flame), soot
or stains around the appliance and pilot lights that frequently
blow out.
|
Never cover an appliance or block the convection air vents. |
|
|
|
Never block or obstruct any fixed ventilation grilles or air
bricks. |
|
|
|
Never block or cover outside flues. |
Caution: Whenever draught exclusion, ceiling or extraction
fans, double glazing or conservatory extensions are fitted
to a room containing a gas appliance, the appliance should
subsequently be checked for safety.
All gas consumers are advised to have appliances checked for
safety at least every 12 months by a CORGI-registered installer.
Carbon monoxide alarms are a useful back-up precaution but
must not be regarded as a substitute for proper installation
and maintenance of gas equipment by a CORGI-registered installer.
If you decide to buy a carbon monoxide alarm, ensure it meets
current safety standards (BS 7860 or BS EN 50291) and carries
the Kitemark. If in doubt ask a member of our staff for advice.
Always follow the manufacturer’s siting instructions.
If you smell gas, or suspect there is a gas escape, you should
immediately do the following:
|
Open all doors and windows. |
|
|
|
Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (if you
know where it is). If gas continues to escape call Transco
on the Gas Emergency Freephone Number 0800 111 999. |
|
|
|
In the case of suspected carbon monoxide leakage, follow the
above procedure, except if you are able to identify the specific
appliance at fault. In this case you should consult a CORGI-registered
installer to investigate and make repairs. |
The solution
Find out about our Service
Care Three Star cover plan for
home owners.
Follow this link for gas
safety advice.
For free, independent advice and a no obligation survey and
quotation, contact us on 01630 656161 or email service@shropshiregas.com
back | back to the top
|
