Life saving grabbit now

harryharp

Well, just to update, I phoned Corgi using the number on the website (Littlewren's link above) to check the advice I'd been given by British Gas (ie. you don't need a CO monitor for coal fires), and was told that any fossil fuels that are burned, including coal, can produce CO, and that therefore British Gas have not given me the correct advice.

I am quite appalled that British Gas should have got this very important information wrong- and will write them a stinky letter, and in the meantime order a CO monitor ASAP.

YOUNGE1

harryharp wrote: »

Well, just to update, I phoned Corgi using the number on the website (Littlewren's link above) to check the advice I'd been given by British Gas (ie. you don't need a CO monitor for coal fires), and was told that any fossil fuels that are burned, including coal, can produce CO, and that therefore British Gas have not given me the correct advice.

I am quite appalled that British Gas should have got this very important information wrong- and will write them a stinky letter, and in the meantime order a CO monitor ASAP.

Hi It is a common misconception that only gas has the risk of CO poisoning. One which I shared until recently unfortunately.

But yes, any fuel burning produces CO and therefore we all need a detector.

I am surprised that British Gas did not know this though.

This just highlights that this issue needs to be widely advertised.

I am glad that many of you have decided to buy a CO monitor as a result of this thread.

YOUNGE1

chun wrote: »

I just read, that, yesterday, in China, a number of schoolgirls have died of C.M. poisoning from lighting a coal fire to keep warm.
Quite chilling to also read that it is not uncommon.

Tragic and completely preventable by a £20 monitor:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1091525/Eleven-schoolgirls-die-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-lighting-warm-freezing-temperatures-hit-China.html

Please buy one for your family this Christmas.

YOUNGE1

From hot uk deals:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/309426/first-alert-carbon-monoxide-detecto/

2 CO detectors for £20

Bargain

redroo555

hope all is ok xxxxx

wacko911

Unlike smoke alarms beaware the sensor in CO alarms have a limited lifespan (5-10 years). Watch out for offers on alarms as they may be old stock and check the expiry label on your alarm when your changing the battery.

headcrash27

I have a gas cooker downstairs and a gas boiler upstairs in my airing cupboard. Do you think one of these alarms placed half way up the stairs be sufficient or would i need to buy two alarms - one for each room? I read that c.m fumes only travel half way up the wall from the ceiling - does anyone know if this is correct?

jenniewb

headcrash27 wrote: »

I have a gas cooker downstairs and a gas boiler upstairs in my airing cupboard. Do you think one of these alarms placed half way up the stairs be sufficient or would i need to buy two alarms - one for each room? I read that c.m fumes only travel half way up the wall from the ceiling - does anyone know if this is correct?

Straight up? I'd say that was false, thats my assumption based on others who found their entire house was a CM fume- not just halfway up the walls. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong but better to be safe then sorry.

headcrash27

jenniewb wrote: »

Straight up? I'd say that was false, thats my assumption based on others who found their entire house was a CM fume- not just halfway up the walls. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong but better to be safe then sorry.

So do you think i would be ok with one detector just on the stairs in that case? Just wondering how many other people have and whereabouts...

NBirdy

I'm completely paranoid about this kind of thing, but didn't think we needed one as we don't have gas? Now I'm wondering if that's correct. This will probably sound stupid but oh well, I'll choose sounding stupid over my family dying -

We live in a house with oil-fired central heating. The oil tank is situated in the garden, and the boiler is in a little shed outside the house. Do I still need CO alarms? We have smoke alarms of course, and have tried to talk about the procedure in case of a fire with our 3 yr old (led to her having nightmares and thinking that if the smoke alarm beeps she should jump out the window :eek: - have straightened that out now!). We also have a small extinguisher and fire blanket.