Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Gloomendoom

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

You only really need a CO alarm if you have a solid fuel fire, but I'm paranoid like the OP, after we had a gas fire that was leaking in a previous house and the source of all our head aches.

Very bad advice.

If you look at the CO poisoning stats, very few are the result of solid fuel appliances, most are gas appliance related.

chrisw

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Very bad advice.

If you look at the CO poisoning stats, very few are the result of solid fuel appliances, most are gas appliance related.

I think the confusion arises from legislation last year requiring all rental properties to have a CO alarm in all rooms with a solid fuel appliance.

I've no idea why they didn't include gas appliances in the legislation but it's still good practice to have one.

shaun_from_Africa

chrisw wrote: »

I've no idea why they didn't include gas appliances in the legislation but it's still good practice to have one.

I would think that the reason for legislation requiring a CO monitor for solid fuel appliances and not for gas is because as the law currently stands, it is a legal requirement for there to be an annual safety check carried out on the gas appliances, something that doesn't apply to solid fuel.

malky39

You will find most supermarkets now sell them and are probably the cheapest place to get them, Asda had one at £12 last time I was in. Site it and test it per the manufacturer s instruction and replace it at the end of its stated life span.

silvercar

tacpot12 wrote: »

One that displays the amount of CO in parts per million would allow you to evaluate whether you really need to leave the property if the alarm goes off, but they are all very sensitive and highly reliable. We have the model you provided the link to.

This^^^^

We had an intermittent CO leak that registered only about 50 on the display. By heavily monitoring we were able to keep our boiler on and the house warm. Without a monitor that had a reading, we would have been freezing over 2 days.

Gloomendoom

The problem with CO is that the damage is cumulative. For example, you could walk past a car exhaust that would be off the scale on a CO alarm and it will do you no harm, however, sitting for several hours in an environment that registers only 50 may be more dangerous.

kerri_gt

Thanks all, appreciate all the input and debate. I'll definitely pick up an alarm and site it properly - fingers crossed we'll never need it but better safe than sorry. I said to OH it was that...or a canary

VfM4meplse

kerri_gt wrote: »

I need to get a Carbon Monoxide alarm as we have a gas fire and I feel it is necessary even with having the fire serviced. There seem to be so many on the market, are any better than others?

I was looking at this one as it's compact and could be popped in a corner / on a shelf without being intrusive

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fireangel-co-9b-co-alarm-led-display/25134

Thanks for starting this thread, I've found it useful. The model you were looking to buy back them is cheaper on Amazon.

I think I'll go for the CO-9X version which lasts for 7 years.

Risteard

nickcc wrote: »

My only comment is that some only last a certain length of time.

All carbon monoxide alarms complying with the standard only last a set length of time. Ei Electronics (a.k.a. Aico) detectors last I believe 12 years, although the sensor needs to be replaced after six years.

The same applies to smoke alarms, which typically have a life of 10 years.