The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Your Home From Carbon Monoxide

OneHeat is passionate about protecting our customers from the ‘silent killer’ – Carbon monoxide. We give away a free carbon monoxide detector with every new boiler install, which could save a family from this harmful gas. 

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide is an odourless and tasteless gas. There are two thigs that make carbon monoxide dangerous. Carbon Monoxide molecules are very small, meaning that is can easily travel through drywall. Carbon Monoxide doesn’t sink or rise, so it mixes easily with the air inside a home. 

Carbon Monoxide is generated by the incomplete burning of carbon fuels. There isn’t a way of knowing the gas is there if you don’t have an alarm to warn you when your boiler is leaking the poison. Much like Snow White unwittingly eating a poisonous apple, you can’t detect it until it’s too late. 

Carbon Monoxide can be found anywhere from your fireplace, gas appliances to wood-burning or multifuel stoves. It is a Combustible Gas which means it is able to catch fire and burn easily. 

Every year, there are at least twenty-five deaths from accidental CO poisoning. Each year the figure drops because boiler companies are trying to prevent it from happening and trying to keep everyone safe – awareness is key. 

Compared to present day figures to 2010, the number of deaths have dropped a total of 61 per year. That is sixty-one lives a year that companies have saved by giving away free Carbon Monoxide alarms. 

Why is Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?

Carbon Monoxide is very harmful to you. When breathed in it replaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain and other organs of oxygen, which causes you to suffocate and black out, possibly resulting in a fatality. 

WARNING: It only takes 1-2 hours for the monoxide to starve your body of clean air which can cause cellular death, serious tissue damage, or even death. 

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:
  • Headaches
  • Feeling sick or being sick
  • Feeling weak
  • Confusion
  • Chest and Muscle pain
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath

Never ignore these symptoms. In some cases, it could be nothing but don’t take that chance. If you think your property is filled with monoxide and you are breathing it in, then you need to open all windows and doors to let fresh air in. Opening windows will slow down the poisoning but it won’t stop it. You need to evacuate the property immediately.

How to prevent Carbon Monoxide leaks?

To prevent Carbon Monoxide leaks from happening, ring a boiler company to service your boiler annually and see if they can find anything wrong with it. In some cases, carbon monoxide is generated if the boiler is not working efficiently. Other ways to prevent CO build-up is to never run a motor vehicle, generator, or gasoline powered engine less than 20 feet from an open window. Never use charcoal grill, lantern, or portable camping stoves inside a home. 

It is advisable to buy a Carbon Monoxide detector. Because carbon monoxide is lighter than air, the detectors should be placed on a wall about five feet above the floor. You can place a detector on every floor of your home. Don’t place one right next to or over a fireplace or flame producing appliance. You can also place a detector 15cm from the ceiling and 1m away from the boiler. 

Things to consider when buying Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Finding the best carbon monoxide detectors for your property is really important. But before you jump in and buy any old detectors there are a few things you need to consider.

  •  Budget for purchasing multiple detectors: When figuring out which detector you want you need to, make a budget for how much you are willing to spend as you need to consider how many you will need for each floor of your property. 
  •  Sensor life: The sensors are especially important – this is what is going to detect the gas. You need one with a strong sensor life. They have a limited life span and when that runs out the entire unit needs to be replaced. They typically range between 7 and 10 years. 
  •  The unit of measurement for CO concentration levels are Parts Per Million (PPM), and an average detector will pick up levels between 30 and 40ppm, activating the alarm once 70ppm is consistently detected. While 70ppm is unlikely to cause a threat to life for most people without illnesses, it could indicate rising levels which need addressing. If there are young children in the property, or people who are sick or elderly, you may wish to consider a more sensitive model, such as one that detects as little as 10ppm. 
The best Carbon Monoxide detectors are listed into two categories:
 
  •  Stand-alone CO Detectors 
  • Combination Smoke and CO Alarms 
 
 

Stand-Alone Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Stand alone detectors are what most people go for because they already have a smoke detector installed and don’t need a combination alarm. The following list of detectors is non-exhaustive, but has good reputations (please do your own due diligence before making a purchase). 

  • Kidde 10LLDCo
  • Honeywell XC100D
  • Fireangel CO-9D
  • Kidde 7DCO
  • Aico Ei208DW
  • Fireangel W2-CO-10X Wireless
  • First Alert CO410

The best Combined Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Buying a combined smoke and carbon monoxide detector can save you a lot of money and is easier than buying a separate one. (You should research the reputation and quality before purchase). 

  • Kidde 10SCO with voice 
  • Nest Protect 
  • Fire Alert SC05UK

Carbon Monoxide FAQS

If your carbon monoxide alarm is beeping, then you need to immediately evacuate the property and call the relevant helpline for your boiler. 

No carbon monoxide isn’t heavier than air – it’s surprisingly slightly lighter than air. 

Yes, you can check for Carbon Monoxide without a detector, but it would be better to have a detector in your property. If you don’t have one, then a sign of a carbon monoxide leak is brownish or yellowish stains around the appliance. If you suspect the presence of carbon monoxide you should vacate the area immediately. 

A carbon monoxide alarm alerts you with four beeps. A single chirp means the battery is low or the detector should be replaced. 

Yes, you need a carbon monoxide detector with every single boiler. It’s the most useful thing you need in your home heating system and could save a life. 

You should be getting a Carbon Monoxide Detector with your new boiler, but you can also get one from most DIY stores and some larger supermarkets. 

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