Carbon monoxide alarm sounding in your Coventry home? What to do immediately to stay safe, the warning signs of CO, and why your boiler and gas appliances need checking.
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If a carbon monoxide alarm is sounding, treat it as real until you know otherwise. Carbon monoxide, or CO, has no smell, colour or taste. It can come from a boiler, gas fire, cooker or any fuel-burning appliance that is not burning properly or is not venting correctly, and breathing it in can make people seriously ill.
Here is what to do. Open doors and windows. Turn off gas appliances if you can do so safely. Get everyone out of the house, including pets. Then ring the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999. If anyone has symptoms, such as a headache, dizziness, feeling sick, breathlessness, confusion or collapse, ring 999 or get urgent medical help straight away. Do not go back in until it has been checked and you are told it is safe.
Afterwards, the appliance that caused it needs to be inspected and put right before it is used again. In Coventry we see the risk highest with older boilers and gas fires, blocked flues, and appliances that have not been serviced for a few years, which is common in rented homes and in older houses in Foleshill, Radford and Stoke. An annual service is the best way to catch problems before they become dangerous.
Open doors and windows, turn off gas appliances if it is safe, and get everyone outside. Then ring 0800 111 999.
Headache, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, confusion or drowsiness can all be signs of CO poisoning. Get medical help straight away.
A single chirp every minute or so usually means a low battery or the alarm reaching the end of its life. Check the manual and replace it. A continuous alarm is never a battery issue.
A lazy yellow or orange flame instead of a crisp blue one, black soot marks, or more condensation than usual on windows can all point to an appliance not burning properly.
Every home with a gas appliance should have a working CO alarm, ideally in the same room as the boiler and in sleeping areas.
Open windows and doors, turn off gas appliances if safe, get everyone out and ring 0800 111 999. If anyone feels unwell, ring 999. Do not go back in until it is checked.
Headaches, dizziness, feeling sick, tiredness, breathlessness and confusion. Symptoms that ease when you leave the house and come back when you return are a warning sign.
Yes. A boiler or gas fire that is faulty, poorly maintained or has a blocked flue can produce CO. That is why annual servicing matters.
The emergency service makes it safe. The appliance then needs inspecting and repairing by a gas engineer before it is used again. Ring us and we will arrange it.
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