What to Do When Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off

CO detectors, or carbon monoxide alarms, are essential for the detection of a deadly gas, carbon monoxide (CO). This gas cannot exist seen, tasted or smelt and is only detected with the use of co detectors. It is produced through the incomplete combustion of fuel, such as gas, wood, coal and oil.

Before we continue to look at CO detector false alarms here is some advice on what you should do if your alert goes off.

What to do when your carbon monoxide alarm is going off

If your CO detector is chirping practise not assume that it is a false alarm, call up carbon monoxide can't exist seen, tasted or smelt. Y'all should assume that there is CO present and should follow these steps to ensure your safe.

• Stay calm, open doors and windows to increase ventilation
• Where prophylactic to do and then, turn off whatsoever fuel-burning appliance
• Leave the premises and notify other occupants of the potential carbon monoxide leak (yous should as well notify any occupant of premises adjoined to your home as CO tin can seep through walls and floors
• Phone call Gas Emergency Services 0800 111 999 or a local Gas Rubber Registered Engineer to check for the source of carbon monoxide
• Get medical assistance for anyone suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:

Persistent Headaches

Having persistent boring headaches and tension type headaches.

Dizziness

Having waves of dizziness or feeling low-cal headed and off balance.

Nausea / Vomiting

Feeling like y'all need to exist ill (nausea) and actually being sick (airsickness).

Tummy Pains

Pains in your stomach or lower belly, sometimes accompanied by diarrhoea.

Difficulty Animate

Sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnoea).

Tiredness

Having no energy or feeling tired, sleepy, lethargic and sluggish.

Sudden Collapse

Sudden collapse, seizures or loss of consciousness.

Confusion

Confusion, difficulty concentrating and becoming easily irritated.

What causes CO detector fake alarms?

A false alarm is when your CO detector alarms and where no carbon monoxide is detected by your engineer. There could be several reasons for this:

• The carbon monoxide detected did not come up from your own appliances but may have seeped through the walls or flooring from a neighbour. Cheque if your neighbours have fuel-burning appliances that might emit carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide might escape from chimney stacks allowing carbon monoxide to enter your premises via a joint loft space.
• The supplant-past date may take been exceeded. CO alarms become erratic in one case expired. This is the most common reason for fake alarms.
• Excessive moisture from a bathroom may gear up off your CO alarm. CO alarms should not be installed in areas with excessive steam.
• Lead acid battery chargers produce hydrogen gas which sets off CO detectors. Keep this in mind if yous are charging your caravan/gunkhole battery at home.
• Freshly screeded floors emit a gas that sets off carbon monoxide alarms.
• The carbon monoxide warning that y'all have installed may not exist suitable for the blazon of bounds, for example if it is installed in a caravan, tent, gunkhole or living quarters of a horsebox you will need to ensure that your alarm is Kitemarked to BS EN50291-2. Alarms tested to BS EN50291-one are only for employ in home environments and are not suitable for camping ground and caravanning.
• On rare occasions if hither is a heavy smoker in a room that is poorly ventilated the CO from smoking may trigger an alarm.
• Homes that are next to very busy roads may experience higher levels of CO in the abode when windows are open as traffic fumes may enter the room and set your warning off.
• The sound that your alarm is making may not be the alarm sound to alert you that there are dangerous levels of CO present. About alarms have several aural sounds to indicate things such equally low battery warning or that in that location is a fault with the warning. When you install an warning read the user transmission and get to know what the unlike sounds indicate. Continue the manual safe so that y'all can refer to it should the alert become off.

Buying a CO detector

Yous should accept a carbon monoxide detector in every room where there is a solid fuel called-for apparatus. Merely chose CO detectors that have met the rigorous testing standards of the European standard EN50291. That style you volition have peace of mind that this vital warning has been manufactured and tested to the highest standards.

If you are looking for a CO detector that y'all can also take on holiday, for caravanning, camping or using on a boat look out for ones that are Kitemarked to BS EN50291-2 such as the Kidde 7CO. If y'all would like a detector that gives you a visual display of CO levels, nosotros recommend the Kidde 7DCO.

Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alert - 7DCO / 7DCOC

• FREE delivery
• Product Life: x years
• Battery: replaceable AA alkaline batteries included
• Warranty: ten twelvemonth warranty
• Displays CO levels from 10ppm
• Peak Level Retention - recalls highest CO levels
• Ideal for domestic utilise and camping, caravans & boats
• Kitemarked to BS EN50291-1 and BS EN50291-2
• Also suitable for the 2022 Welsh legislation

£12.49 ex VAT

£14.99 inc VAT

Buy At present

If you lot are unsure if you have the right carbon monoxide alarm installed our customer intendance team are here to help. You can call them on 0800 612 6537 or e-mail back up@safelincs.co.uk.

Hr & Marketing Manager

Angie has been our marketing manager since joining in 2002. She as well has a keen involvement in H&S issues.

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Source: https://www.safelincs.co.uk/blog/2021/02/16/co-detectors-and-false-alarms/

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