Carbon Mononxide Alarm

tt2cno

Britishgas engineer has just visited for annual boiler service. He recommended fitting the BG Carbon Monoxide alarm for £29.99. I currently have the FireAngel CO-808 model which the engineer condemned as not fit for purpose even though the alarm appears to be working as per the test instruction. I was therefore not convinced with his reason that the CO-808 is not a sealed unit.
Has anyone any experience of this: must all functional CO alarm be sealed unit and is there any functional difference between BG CO alarm and other alarms, for example the FirstAlert CO alarm at £7.50 from LloydsPharmacy?
Appreciate your advise. Thanks

maninthestreet

So a BG engineer condemned your non-BG CO alarm, and recommended you buy a BG CO alarm instead???

DVardysShadow

tt2cno wrote: »

Appreciate your advise. Thanks

You were lucky it was only your CO alarm which was condemned. You do know you were supposed to buy the CO alarm to stop him condemning the boiler?

Personally, I would condemn British Laughing Gas.

Meatballs

Sealed just means it will have a better battery rather than a replaceable one. They are both going to do the same job but one will run out of juice more often, possibly leaving you at risk if not properly maintained.

Ideally if you're going to get one installed you'd want a mains powered one with battery backup.

Your current alarm is fine though!

tt2cno

Meatballs wrote: »

Sealed just means it will have a better battery rather than a replaceable one. They are both going to do the same job but one will run out of juice more often, possibly leaving you at risk if not properly maintained.

Ideally if you're going to get one installed you'd want a mains powered one with battery backup.

Your current alarm is fine though!

Thanks Meatballs, that's reasuring.

MX5huggy

There is no requirement or legalisation covering CO alarms (to my knowledge) so ignore the fool and next time make sure you hide it.

moonrakerz

MX5huggy wrote: »

There is no requirement or legalisation covering CO alarms (to my knowledge) so ignore the fool and next time make sure you hide it.

Your knowledge is obviously - and dangerously, limited !!

The "fool" is probably trying to save someone's life.......................

CO alarms have a limited life, depending on the type of detector fitted inside of the alarm. Some models last for 2 years others up to 10. We are NOT talking about battery life here, either - the actual detecting circuit degrades over time. I would hazard a guess and say that a £7.50 unit from Lloyds won't last for 10 years ..............

Some of the other comments in this thread are not only ill informed - they are dangerous !!!

OP, I'll leave it to you to decide who is the fool !

muckybutt

What I would also advise doing is buy a can of CO testing spray and test the CO detector regularly other than just pushing the button, all that does is test the sounder is working.

By using the spray tester you are also testing the detection chamber which is essential for correct operation, I test mine quarterly having had CO poisioning myself years ago.

gas4you

I wouldn't recommend testing with CO spray, as each time you do this you will dramatically reduce the life of the co cell.

Don't worry about what BG have said. Total load of tosh to get you to spend money with them.

moonrakerz

gas4you wrote: »

Don't worry about what BG have said. Total load of tosh to get you to spend money with them.

OP - this post is again VERY misleading and potentially dangerous !

What is the date on your existing CO alarm? - perhaps you have had a BG gas man who can read..... (according to the leaflet your model has a 6 yr life)
Is your alarm installed in the correct position ? - this is critical for the correct functioning of these units.

...........as I have said before, be VERY, VERY careful about some of the "advice" being doled out on this thread.

To return to the comment by MX5huggy: there IS legislation concerning the mandatory fitting if CO alarms in some types of domestic property; "advice" from this source should be totally ignored !

The BG man MAY be trying to make you buy something you don't need - BUT, he may be 100% correct - it's your life !

DVardysShadow

moonrakerz wrote: »

... The BG man MAY be trying to make you buy something you don't need - BUT, he may be 100% correct - it's your life !

He would be more credible if he were not trying to sell one off the back of his van.