Carbon Monoxide Detector

Ray Toofan asked:


Each and every appliance that is fuel burning carries a risk of leaking carbon monoxide, unless it burns carbon based fuel. Carbon monoxide is created through the process of combustion and is so deadly as it is virtually invisible to humans as it is odorless, tasteless and colorless and exposure to it can quite quickly lead to death. When breathed in carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream and prevents oxygen from circulating around the body. After time this will lead to organ failure, and without immediate medical treatment, death. However the majority of people who die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning will die in their sleep as they are breathing in the fumes all night.

If you are concerned about the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning you need to make sure that you do all you can to protect yourself and others from leaking appliances. Leaking appliances are the main cause of death from carbon monoxide poisoning and many people do not even realise if their appliances are faulty and leaking. Here are some practical things you can do to avoid CO poisoning:

-Make sure that any work that is done on appliances regardless of whether they are in residential or commercial properties is done by someone who is registered to do so. For example, if you are getting new air conditioning installed, have your local HVAC technician carry out the work for you. They are the experts and will ensure that the appliance is installed to government standards.

-Have all appliances serviced regularly to avoid any blockages that could lead to a build up, then leak of carbon monoxide. Doing this is cheap and easy and can save lives. Your local HVAC technician can offer this support as standard and can repair or replace faulty appliances if needed.

-In each room that has an appliance that could leak carbon monoxide make sure that there is adequate ventilation. Without this CO could leak and build up quickly posing a greater risk than in a well ventilated room.

-If you have a chimney in your property you must make sure that is swept by a professional at least once a year to avoid soot and debris from blocking it.

-Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home, these will go off when they detect any CO in the atmosphere and can be a life saver.

-If you notice that one of your appliances is not working as it should be, or you suspect it of leaking you must turn it off immediately and call out someone to take a look at it. This way even if it is not leaking you have prevented a possible problem from occurring.

In order to make sure that your home is not at risk from leaking appliances you should make sure that they are correctly installed and maintained. For more information on this contact your local HVAC technician who will be more than pleased to help you make your home CO safe by installing and checking your appliances regularly.



Esther

bloom media asked:


What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas which is highly toxic. The gas is formed through the incomplete combustion of natural gas or petroleum gas. It isn’t just a problem for large fossil fuel production plants though as the same combustion can take place in households via appliances such as gas fires, water heaters and boilers. Carbon monoxide becomes dangerous to humans when fuels are not burned properly due to faulty or damaged heating systems or gas fires and appliances. The gas can accumulate in poorly ventilated areas such as blocked flues and chimneys where the fumes can’t escape properly and can then be breathed in by members of the household.

How can it affect you?

Carbon monoxide poisoning happens when people breathe in CO fumes. Carbon monoxide poisoning does not necessarily happen quickly either. Early symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, sore throats and stomach pain and is commonly mistaken for flu. The main difference between CO poisoning and flu is that the former doesn’t cause a high temperature. Sometimes symptoms start to show in a few days and in other cases it can be months of mild but long term exposure. Severe symptoms of the poisoning include difficulty breathing, seizures and even loss of consciousness.

How can you reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Thankfully there are many ways you can reduce the risk of CO poisoning in your home. Firstly, ask a professional to come to your home and check out possible causes of CO build up. Areas to check include whether the flue is blocked by plants or other outside debris which could be preventing the system from working. Also check that air bricks and trickle vents are clear and ask an expert to check the state of your gas appliances such as fires, grills and ovens. The most effective way you can find out the risk of CO poisoning in your home is by installing a carbon monoxide alarm.

Where to put the CO alarm?

These alarms are different to smoke detectors as they are specifically designed to detect the invisible CO gas. If you’re installing just the one CO alarm then it’s wise to place it in a central area of the home where it will be heard even when people are asleep. Although it may seem like an obvious place, it’s not advisable to place the alarm near potentially effected appliances as even appliances in good working condition can sometimes emit small amounts of CO when switched on. Humid areas and warm areas can also affect how well alarms and detectors work.

There is a very good reason why carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer so make sure you’re not the next victim and take the time to seek professional advice about potential carbon dioxide risks in your home. The first step you can take is installing a CO alarm as they are an affordable necessity to protect the people in your home.



Kurt