Carbon monoxide posoning?

roy_harper

Dear All
In short, I would like to know if I can claim damages from the local council for not maintaining the chimney properly.

I moved to this council property with my two children in 1994. I got a degree at aged 40 and was set to give my kids a good life when I became ill and the GP has signed me off long-term sick for depression.
Every winter I succumbed to this and had all the symptoms of what I now think was carbon monoxide poisoning.
The council sent a company gas man round each year to check the boiler and the gas fire which I had fitted myself privately. I mentioned that I was worried that I always felt drowsy when I put the fire on. It was only last year on a routine inspection that they checked the chimney and found it still had a 'Parkray' fitted from before I moved in in 1994. So I don't think it was adequately ventilated. I was given a note to say it was blocked by a Parkray and they would take away my fire and the blockage and fit a new one. At no point would the fitters say that I could have been in danger all these years.
They came soon after, took away my fire and the Parkray and fitted a new fire.
This was last year and I just came across the condemn note in my files. I'm starting to feel a bit better and may even get back to part-time work. I wonder if I should tell my GP - take the council to court for damages - claim for some compensation for the illness if it could even be proved it was CO poisoning. Or should I just let it all go and live with it.

Commenets and advice greatly appreciated.

lazza_w

Don't know, to be honest. UNless you've got any medical evidence that you have been exposed to CO and that it is linked with your depression then you're probably not going to get anywhere. Lethargy is a common finding in someone who has depression and depression tends to be worse in the winter.

I'd suspect that you're just going to incur a lot of legal charges to no avail

You ought to post this somewhwere else though. The referrer's board isn't going to provide you with the infomation you need.

silvercar

The council sent a company gas man round each year to check the boiler and the gas fire which I had fitted myself privately.

Are you CORGI registered? If not it is illegal to fit a gas device yourself.

If it was inspected and condemmed it would hav had notices put on it warning you not to use it and it would have been disconnected. You would not have re-connected it yourself!

Notlob

I always thought there was no requirement for the LL to check tenant's gas appliances. Bearing in mind you arranged the fitting and it is your appliance, I think it a bit rich that you want to blame the council!

EliteHeat

Were you less depressed during the summer months when you didn't need the gas fire? what does your GP say about the persistence of the symptoms of CO poisoning?

ruggedtoast

My wife and her flatmates got CO poisoning in a student flat and the system was condemned, but by the time they were able to get a blood test the CO had gone from their blood so they had to make do with a token gesture of compensation from the LL.

If you have gas appliances you should have a carbon monoxide detector really. I doubt you'll ever know if it was that that contributed to your tiredness and depression however when the gas engineers do the check each year they have a detector that they use themselves, if the reading was high they'd have told you.

TBH you dont sound like you made much improvement in the summer or when the new heater was fitted so i dont think you'd get far with a comp claim. It would depend largely on if your doctor supported you and how far.

dmitch071

The fire obviously was incorrectly fitted, any flue for a new gas appliance has to be suitable and would mean if it was blocked from the day of install then it shouldnt have been signed off as safe by the CORGI engineer that installed it as would be deemed "imediatly dangerous". If you still have the details of the original installers or anyone that has serviced the fire since and not recorded it, then you can request Corgi to investigate why it was not picked up. The problem is proving it was like that when installed I suggest you contact CORGI if you are in doubt.

As regards to the CO I suggest you buy a detector as CO can pass through propertys and if your gas appliances are poorly maintained chances are so are your neighbours. Its not uncommon for people to be killed by neighbours dodgy installs.

Captain_Mainwaring_2

roy_harper wrote: »

Dear All
In short, I would like to know if I can claim damages from the local council for not maintaining the chimney properly.

I moved to this council property with my two children in 1994. I got a degree at aged 40 and was set to give my kids a good life when I became ill and the GP has signed me off long-term sick for depression.
Every winter I succumbed to this and had all the symptoms of what I now think was carbon monoxide poisoning.
The council sent a company gas man round each year to check the boiler and the gas fire which I had fitted myself privately. I mentioned that I was worried that I always felt drowsy when I put the fire on. It was only last year on a routine inspection that they checked the chimney and found it still had a 'Parkray' fitted from before I moved in in 1994. So I don't think it was adequately ventilated. I was given a note to say it was blocked by a Parkray and they would take away my fire and the blockage and fit a new one. At no point would the fitters say that I could have been in danger all these years.
They came soon after, took away my fire and the Parkray and fitted a new fire.
This was last year and I just came across the condemn note in my files. I'm starting to feel a bit better and may even get back to part-time work. I wonder if I should tell my GP - take the council to court for damages - claim for some compensation for the illness if it could even be proved it was CO poisoning. Or should I just let it all go and live with it.

Commenets and advice greatly appreciated.

Unlikely the old back boiler exchanger would have caused a flue blockage.

Surely you/the original installation engineer did a draught/ smoke test on the installation. Sounds like someone from your side is negligent, there could have been a cap on the flue too, but you didn't check.

CO poisoning gives short term symptoms and in high concentrations kills you.
Your suggesting that you have symptoms left over from 1994??

If you are looking for compensation, better you fall over on a pavement or a pothole. Sue your GP too while you are at it.

Captain_Mainwaring_2

Notlob wrote: »

I always thought there was no requirement for the LL to check tenant's gas appliances. Bearing in mind you arranged the fitting and it is your appliance, I think it a bit rich that you want to blame the council!

Wants a bit of compo - anything goes.

Captain_Mainwaring_2

dmitch071 wrote: »

The fire obviously was incorrectly fitted, any flue for a new gas appliance has to be suitable and would mean if it was blocked from the day of install then it shouldnt have been signed off as safe by the CORGI engineer that installed it as would be deemed "imediatly dangerous". If you still have the details of the original installers or anyone that has serviced the fire since and not recorded it, then you can request Corgi to investigate why it was not picked up. The problem is proving it was like that when installed I suggest you contact CORGI if you are in doubt.

As regards to the CO I suggest you buy a detector as CO can pass through propertys and if your gas appliances are poorly maintained chances are so are your neighbours. Its not uncommon for people to be killed by neighbours dodgy installs.

Are you CORGI registered?? obviously this, and obviously that.

You are talking out of your hat.

The CO detector is the one sensible thing you mention.

I should add that as efficient as the flue may be - the FAI is also critical. In these days of solid floors and double glazing, you need to let fresh air in to get flue gas out.

poppysarah

You could potentially have a case against the person who installed it.
How many years ago was that?