Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
What causes it?
Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed or maintained. This stops gas from burning properly, which can then produce too much carbon monoxide.
Warning signs that your appliances may not be working properly are:
- Yellow or brown staining around appliances
- Pilot lights that frequently blow out
- Yellow rather than blue flames (apart from flue-less or fuel effect fires)
- The flue is damaged or broken
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
You can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- Tiredness/drowsiness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Chest pains
- Stomach pains.
How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
- Let us into your property each year to carry out an annual service gas safety check. We will check your own gas appliances as part of this service. If you cannot keep an appointment, contact us and we can rearrange it to a time that suits you.
- Always use Gas Safe Registered people to install or maintain your appliances
- Never use a gas appliance if you think it is not working properly
- Never block or obstruct any appliances, air vents, air bricks or flues
- Do not sleep in a room where a non-room sealed appliance is left burning at night. (Flue outlets for room sealed appliances are usually located on an external wall at a low level protected by a cage rather than at or above roof level).
If you have any concerns about a gas appliance or you think there might be a Carbon Monoxide leak in your home, you can take the following steps:
- Turn off the gas appliance and call our repairs contact centre on
0845 600 3441. We will arrange for one of our contractors or gas inspectors to visit you to check the appliance
- Open all doors and windows
to ventilate the room
- Seek medical attention
if necessary