Carbon Monoxide Detector Has Gone Off!

paintpot

I have been refurbishing a BTL property for a client for the last week. I decided at the end of today to put batteries in the carbon monoxide detectors that were already fitted in the house but had no batteries in before. How horrified was I when at the end of today the one in the bedroom that has the boiler in started going off :eek: I tried 3 times and each time it went off. I've been working in that room alot as it had to be totally redecorated. I've read the symptoms of poisoning and don't feel ill or nauseaus, not dizzy just really shattered but maybe that's because I've been working hard or maybe not!

I am not one to panic but how likely is it that the detector is defective do you think? The previous owners seemed fine when I got the keys a week ago?

I have shut the door on the problem for the night, turned the boiler off completely and already had a corgi guy booked for next week to do the gas cert but if there is cardon monoxide what's likely up with the boiler? I am going to try and buy one of the paper detectors and stick it in the room next time I go to see if it changes colour.......

John_3:16

The detector is usely very sensative so it could be that it has picked up trace elements. If you don,t feel unwell then I asume you should be ok. I think I may have left a window open as well.

Sometimes a low battery or dust on the sensor can cause it to go off. Maybe it is defective try it outside and see if it still goes off.

Canucklehead

Hi

Could you swap the detectors around and see if they all do it.? May be some dust from your decorating has upset it.
Tricky as you don't want to poison yourself (potentially) in doing so.
What make is the boiler?
And finally ,as you are aware, leave it off 'till the corgi gets there.

Corgi Guy.

paintpot

Hi thanks, it's definitely not low battery because they were brand new batteries and it went off in a matter of seconds of inserting brand new batteries. I couldn't quite work out how to get it off the wall as it has slidey panels but I am sure I will suss it out ( ). I was only doing it as an end of day task so as I was leaving to come I didn't want to leave the windows open but I will open them as soon as I return - just in case! I do feel very tired but now I think its just paranoia :eek:

paintpot

Hi thanks alot, the boiler is a myson apollo. I would have swapped the detectors if I could have got the blooming things off the wall . Going to tackle that tomorrow, with windows open and boiler off

maninthestreet

John_3:16 wrote: »

The detector is usely very sensative so it could be that it has picked up trace elements. If you don,t feel unwell then I asume you should be ok. I think I may have left a window open as well.

Sometimes a low battery or dust on the sensor can cause it to go off. Maybe it is defective try it outside and see if it still goes off.

Carbon monoxide is fatal in extremely low concentrations, as low as one part in one million, so if it doesnt go off when taken outside, it's safest to assume there is a dangerous concentration of CO in the room it went off in.

shelley_crow

I hope you get it sorted and please please please stay on the safe side. My mom got CO poisoning in the mid 90s when we were living in rented accomodation, not pleasant.

paintpot

shelley_crow wrote: »

I hope you get it sorted and please please please stay on the safe side. My mom got CO poisoning in the mid 90s when we were living in rented accomodation, not pleasant.

Thank you everyone, I will be careful, I don't need to go in that room now its finished and the boiler is off, I will ventilate the house until the corgi guy comes. I do hope it's just the detector...

Ghost

I am surprised that it's considered 'legal' to site a boiler in a bedroom. It just doesn't seem right to me.

ormus

modern boilers with RS (room sealed) flues are safe and approved for use, in bedrooms etc..
older boilers/fires that are serviced correctly/installed properly, and have the correct ventilation (air bricks) in the rooms etc.. are safe.
accidents usually happen when 2 or more factors take place.
ie, boiler not serviced, with inedequate ventilation.

eco-friendly_2

Ghost wrote: »

I am surprised that it's considered 'legal' to site a boiler in a bedroom. It just doesn't seem right to me.

In some locations there is no option BUT, there are some RGI installers who will talk the old, and the gullable in to a bedroom installation for their own selfish reasons, it can make an install quicker and easier, like placing radiators next to doors in upstairs bedrooms, rather than installing the radiators at a window 'the coldest spot', saves lifting floors and saves on materials .