Does your home have a CO detector?

[Nile]

CO (carbon monoxide) is a poisonous gas which you can't see and can't smell!

CO is released when fuels are burnt, it can leak into a room when the flue is partially/totally blocked or if the flue/appliance is faulty.

Headaches and nausea (not attributed to drinking with Andrea in the Arms) may be the first symptoms that CO is present in the air.

We've had CO detectors since 1994, when they were first commercially available. One is fitted in the lounge (where we have a gas fire) and the other is in the kitchen (where we cook with gas).

The CO detectors we have are electrically powered and give a visible green/yellow/red light indication and buzzer alarm. The detector needs to be replaced after five years of operation.

They are not cheap and you can probably buy cheaper detectors now. If anyone is interested in the model/manufacturer of our detectors, let me know.

[Galstonian]

I have some cardboard CO detectors - they are coated with some kind of chemical that changes colour if there is sufficient CO in the air. Much cheaper in the short term but they don't last forever.

[Nile]

You pays your money and takes your choice. Your cardboard version will show if CO has been detected but it relies on you regularly inspecting it.

The CO detectors in my home have coloured lights (green, yellow and red) and a warning buzzer which sounds if the CO level rises above 100ppm.

Levels of 400ppm are life threatening after 3 hours.

Levels of 800ppm will result in death within 2-3 hours.

So......this winter, if you have headaches, tiredness, dizziness and nausea, don't assume that you've got the flu, it could be CO poisoning causing these symptoms.

[Nile]

Let's all be safe in our homes.

[Glad]

I'm sure that gas suppliers provide battery powered detectors at discount prices

[Glad]

battery powered £21.99 at http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp;jsessionid=C3P4MCMVZONUJCJO2C4CJ0Q?id=1573 8&ts=65473

[Judi]

We have those cardboard gas detectors in our house, but i am sure you have to change them on a regular basis, and i am afraid ours are a year old. Kick up the backside for me and Mr Judi i spose :-[

[trafalgar]

Yeah got mine , I'm a bit of safety maniac ;D

I used to have a radon gas detector at my last home because of where it was built , all the home around there did. :)

[student100]

When we got a new boiler fitted the British Gas engineer fitted one free. (BG fitted the boiler).

[1jim]

i got one from argos, approx 32quid but is smoke and co detector, seems very good, keep meaning to get one for upstairs to replace the normal smoke alarm, u can never be too carefull

[Pal]

When we got a new boiler fitted the British Gas engineer fitted one free. (BG fitted the boiler).

It would have been a good moneysaving tip until you said that BG fitted the boiler.

[arkonite_babe]

so whats the best type of co detector to get and where do I get it from?

[Nile]

Hello arkonite_babe

As I said in my first posting, the CO detectors in my home are not the cheapest you can buy. The cardboard type are much cheaper but don't have a light indicator or audible buzzer if CO is detected.

However, if you're interested in buying the same type as our the details are as follows:

Supplier: SF Detection
Tel No: 0800 5974 777
Model: SF340 Carbon Monoxide Detector (mains with battery back up)
Price: £56.95 (inc p & p)

They also supply a battery model (SF350) at £29.95.

I am not connected with this company, just a happy customer. ;)

[chalky_bertie]

Just bought one a few months back for about £28 from Index. Well worth the money under any circumstances for peace of mind. Just a quick note to say that on the news it said that someone had died as their neighbours house had leaked carbon monoxide which had come through the floorboards etc and killed them. Just a note to say how nasty it really is!

[plumb1]

They are only as good as the batteries,dont forget to change them annualy.Or as it states in the manual/instructions.

[budgetflyer]

While CO detectors can warn you of a problem, you should still make sure that you get an annual check of All your gas appliances.
If you are a tennant then your landlord whether Local Authority, housing association or private landlord must BY LAW get ANNUAL GAS checks carried out and you have a legal right to see a copy of these.

Home owners have to arrange this themselves and it is NOT (although it should be) obligatory.

Some of the highest levels of CO I've found have been from cookers,especially ovens and grills.
Always make sure a window is open when using for long periods.
Some of these new "range" type 6 burner cookers actually need a permenant air vent

[tair_bashir]

I'm sure there's some local Govt body that gives these out FREE to the elderly. In fact I'm sure of it as my neighbour, an elderly gentleman that I keep an eye out for, has one (and remember him telling me he'd got it FREE...but, darn me, can't remember where he said from..but am sure it was some council/govt body on a CO detection initiative).

Anybody know who it is & whether this was a 1 time only initiative, or an on-going one ?

Meanwhile, I'll try and find out from my neighbour...but bless him, his memory is not what it used to be...

[garrence]

So you have to replace the electric detectors from screwfix every few years? is that right? Sounds a bit wasteful to me. You can't just replace the bit that wears out?

How many do you need? Would one in the hallway be enough for a terraced house, or do you really need one in each room where there's a gas appliance and people spend lots of time?

Take CO seriously please folks - when I was a student, someone died in rented accommodation because he has a gas fire in his bedroom that the landlord has not got checked.

If I remember correctly, you should check that the pilot lights are burning blue not yellow; and CO poisoning starts with feelings of tiredness and nausea (because the CO takes the places in your bloodstream where the oxygen should be). But I'm not a gas man so that could be wrong...

[Nile]

A CO detector is not a substitute for having your gas appliances regularly serviced by a CORGI gas worker, but it is an added level of safety in your home.

[moneysaver]

Makro are selling CO detectors @ £19.99 + vat. It works with a P9 ( square battery).

Moneysaver ;)

[kgpuk]

I've just bought a mains (Plugs into a socket outlet) CO detector from Focus DIY for £20.00, sorry can't find a link for it. Check your local store. The Model is First Alert FCD2RUK. Hope this helps