Co Alarms - Please Note! Christmas Announcement (3)

[DTCwordfan]

I could have probably posted this in Home but then the message below is a serious one and I know that there are many on here who have CO alarms who would strongly endorse me in asking you, if you don't have one, to treat yourself to a Christmas present in the run-in and buy a unit.

It could save yourself and your family - Aga, coal and woodfires, stoves, use of LPG or kero appliances, they can all produce carbon monoxide if they are faulty OR there isn't sufficient draught in the chimney/flue for the exhaust gases to escape.

I mention this as one ABer's family had a hell of a scare last night. Let me paraphrase the e-mail that I got - and the ABer has asked me to post this message, by the way - the said ABer has had a hell of a fright on hearing this news and can't bear writing about the incident as to what could have happened - and that I can fully understand.

"Scary happenings -Daughter has several dogs - she has started saving and re-homing dogs due to be put down. Anyway last night one was due to be picked but the bloke texted to arrange another night. At 2 a.m. this dog that he had chosen started barking and wouldn't stop. They all went downstairs to find the carbon monoxide sensor going nuts.

Non emergency call made, fire brigade arrived, smouldering ashy coal in the grate to blame, not enough heat to suck the gas up the chimney and a CO build-up had occurred.

So all the firemen being fed and watered at 2.30 a.m. They took away the remains of the fire.

I can't see her parting with this dog now!!"

Fellow ABers, this was a close-run thing - please get one if you don't have an alarm, they come singly or in combination with gas and smoke detectors. For those of you with them, can we ask you to think about when you checked the batteries if you have this type.

You are valuable you your families and, surprise, surprise, you are valuable to the AB community.

Happy Christmas to all and remain safe.

[Buenchico]

Another two stories to back up your case:

When I started teaching, I moved into a bedsit in a big Victorian house in Sheffield and immediately redecorated it. As the nights got colder, I found that I was suffering from lots of headaches and drowsiness when I was in the bedsit. On a couple of occasions I passed out on my bed (without the aid of any alcohol!). When I came round later I felt really ill but getting outside, for a walk in the fresh air, seemed to help quite a bit.

Them, while sitting in my bedsit, I read an inquest report in the local newspaper. A man had died of carbon monoxide poisoning and a gas expert had reported told the inquest that the classic signs of of a blocked flue were present within the flat, i.e. the enamel was pealing from the top of the gas fire and there was a sooty build up, all around the room, at the foot of the walls.

I looked at my gas fire and saw that the enamel was pealing from the top of the gas fire. I looked around at my recently redecorated walls and saw a dark, sooty line running all around the room. I doubt that anyone has ever turned a gas fire off as quickly as I did that evening!

Second one:
About 20 years ago, a friend invited me to stay with her family in a holiday camp chalet over the Christmas period. In order to avoid feeding the coin meter in the chalet, to heat the place, she took a portable gas heater with her (which she'd picked up cheaply in a car boot sale). We very quickly all started to experience headaches and drowsiness and I told her that she'd have to stop using the heater. She refused to believe that there was any real risk and we had a big row about it. It was only when I told her that I wasn't prepared to risk her 10-year-old son's safety and that I would take him away to somewhere safe [whether she agreed or not], that she decided to relent.

[queenofmean]

A penpal of mine had a scare a few years ago, they were very lucky someone came when they did. It still scares her to this day what happened and what could have. We have one and I can't imagine not having one in a home.

I'm glad everybody is alright and Well Done that Pup!

[DTCwordfan]

Thanks guys for those very relevant stories that more than support the premise above, i.e. Get One!!!!

[tonyav]

I would suggest having a co sensor in the bedroom just in case you don't hear the one downstairs.

[douglas9401]

Before we had a combi boiler fitted in the loft we had a gas fire and back boiler and so had a mains powered carbon monoxide detector in the living room.
Thankfully the only thing that ever set it off was whatever was given off by the lights on the artificial Christmas tree.
That said, an absolute essential where the appliance is in the living area.

[gness]

I have one.....it's tested....and one went to Uni with the daughter...x

[Psybbo]

I didn't realize a coal fire could cause that, thank you DTC

[DTCwordfan]

thanks all.......it builds on the story that the ABer kindly let me relate....

[DTCwordfan]

Psybbs, Calor Gas burners and paraffin heaters are well known for this - in the LPG (Calor) case, refinery LPG can be unsaturated and that breaks down to carbon monoxide and dioxide. The stuff used in LPG cars tends to be gas direct from the oil fields and hence saturated, burning to CO2 and water.....

However, fires with coal, and sometimes wood, if the ventilation and draw up the old Santa chimney is poor, then one can get this monoxide build-up, often preceded by a 'stifling' feeling and caused by imperfect burning. I don't want to sound alarmist but, I suspect, a lot of folk out there don't know the risks here.

[237SJ]

I remember this http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/boy-dies-from-fumes-that-killed-his-family-1500783.html Some Jackdaws had made a nest in the chimney

[Psybbo]

DTC, thanks, I wasn't aware of the dangers with an open coal fire

[DTCwordfan]

it's also an area where regular chimney cleaning helps, it really can improve the draw when the crap is cleaned out - and the black tars. This helps too - not cheap but worth it in terms of safety, or something similar....

http://www.fluesystems.com/shop/Chimney_Cleaning_Log.html

[DTCwordfan]

Thanks for that, 237SJ

[seadogg]

Our CO detector started bleeping 2 nights ago. It was only the battery warning but when I was changing the battery I noticed the age of the detector was well past the replacement date. We slung it and now have a new one. Happily our multi fuel stove burns clean but you never know.

[Psybbo]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25957461
This is a horrible example

[DTCwordfan]

Ours (with gas sensors) in the States had a habit at going off at 2am or 3am, if the batteries were down, seadogg.....why is that? Okay bl--dy annoying - but worth it when compared to the alternative.

[DTCwordfan]

Indeed it is, Psybbs.

[seadogg]

Congrats on a relevant and well timed threat DTC.

[seadogg]

..............or thread even.

[janbee]

I have both a fire alarm and a carbon monoxide detector. EVERY home should have one. They're cheap to buy , easy to install and they give 100% peace of mind.