With the recent cold weather and often sub-zero temperatures, we’re all ramping up our heating oil or LPG boilers to keep us toasty in these winter months, whilst keeping in mind ways we can ensure we make energy savings in these times of rising fuel prices and the current cost of living crisis. But whilst our boilers work hard to heat our homes, it’s really important that we stay gas safe at home and avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, so in this blog we’re going to take a look at carbon monoxide and what to do to avoid exposing ourselves to what is often called the ‘Silent Killer’.
Why the ‘Silent Killer’?
Carbon monoxide is often known as the silent killer because you can’t see it, you can’t smell it and you can’t taste it. It is colourless, odourless, tasteless and non-irritating – yet extremely poisonous - and difficult to detect without the correct equipment.
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream, replacing the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide.
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often described as ‘flu-like’. Some symptoms mimic viral infections and can include dizziness, tiredness, weakness, upset stomachs, vomiting, chest paid, headaches and confusion. If overexposure occurs, it can even be lethal to humans and animals, and people with diseases that affect the delivery of oxygen to the heart or brain such as those with asthma or coronary heart disease, for instance, are particularly at risk.
Also something that may indicate carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is if the symptoms your are experiencing seem to disappear when you’re not at home, or if other family members or even your pets are experiencing similar symptoms at the same time.
How is carbon monoxide produced?
Whilst oil and LPG heating in domestic use are both very safe, all fossil fuels have the potential to release carbon monoxide. Produced when carbon based fuels such as heating oil, LPG (liquified petroleum gas), natural gas, wood and coal burn without enough oxygen, the most common source of exposure is from cooking or other fuel burning appliances. All fossil fuel burning appliances have the potential to give off carbon monoxide, including boilers, cookers, stoves, open fires and even barbeques.
Carbon monoxide can be produced as a result of a incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained appliance.
And don’t forget, carbon monoxide can also be produced by generators, BBQ’s, camp stoves, and even from carbon-fuelled engines, so when starting your car on a cold frosty winter morning, don’t overlook the risk of carbon monoxide in exhaust fumes.
Be carbon monoxide aware
Since carbon monoxide doesn’t smell, taste and has no colour, it’s really important to know how to spot the signs of potential leaks in your home, so you know when to seek help to stay safe. Gas Safe Register says any of the following could be a sign of carbon monoxide in your home:
- Floppy yellow or orange flames on your gas hob or oven, rather than a crisp blue flame
- Dark, sooty staining on or around gas appliances
- Pilot lights that frequently blow out
- Increased condensation inside windows
If you have any of the above signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, stop using appliances you think might be making carbon monoxide, such as your boiler, cooker or gas fire, and if you suspect you may actually have carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Open any windows and doors to let fresh air in
- Get out into the fresh air
- Contact the emergency services
- Get medical advise as soon as possible
- And finally, do not go back in to the building until safe to do so
How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
As we all know, prevention is better than cure, and there are some simple steps we can all take to protect ourselves from poisoning.
Service your appliances annually
Ensure your appliances are professionally installed and then regularly inspected by a qualified engineer to ensure maximum efficiently and make sure they are not leaking carbon monoxide.
The importance of maintaining your oil or LPG central heating boiler and all other fuel-burning appliances cannot be stressed enough. Not only will it save you money by ensuring appliances run at maximum efficiency, give you peace of mind your appliances won’t break down, but will protect your family from the potential of deadly carbon monoxide leaks.
We would always advise you use an OFTEC registered oil heating engineer to service your oil boiler, and a GAS SAFE registered engineer to service your LPG appliances.
Ventilate
It’s important to make sure your rooms are well ventilated and do not block air vents, ensuring you have proper ventilation near your heating appliances. Open windows during and/or after cooking, in the bathroom after you’ve had a shower, and do not block any ventilators installed in stoves or fires. All chimneys should be swept regularly and kept clear as chimneys and flues can allow carbon monoxide to invade living spaces.
Be alarmed
Whilst no substitute for having heating equipment serviced and inspected regularly, OFTEC, the trade organisation for the heating and cooking industries in the UK and Republic of Ireland, strongly suggest the fitting of audible carbon monoxide alarms which are inexpensive and readily available from DIY stores or online. Alarms should be to British Standard EN 50291 – follow the instructions and place an alarm in every room which has a fuel burning appliance such as a boiler or wood burner, but do not place alarms in cupboards, behind furniture or near an outside door or ventilation. Other areas where you should also consider putting a detector include where you may have an additional boiler such as in the garage, and it’s good to remember that most carbon monoxide detectors are portable so you can also take them to holiday accommodation.
Alarms should be regularly inspected to ensure they’re working properly by pressing the ‘test button’ and clearing out any dust or debris which could impact on how they function.
We hope the above answers any questions you may have on carbon monoxide, and one last thing, we’d advise you to think ‘IAM’:
- Installation – all gas appliances should be fitted by a Gas Safe or OFTEC Registered engineer.
- Alarm – an alarm should be present near any fuel burning appliance around your home or business.
- Maintenance – like any mechanical object, regular servicing and essential maintenance should be carried out regularly.