Carbon monoxide detection
Everything you need to know about carbon monoxide to keep you and your home safe
Understanding the risks of carbon monoxide is important. It can lead to serious issues in your home and be incredibly damaging to you and those you may live with.
Our Gas and Carbon Monoxide Safety policy sets out what you can expect from us
What is carbon monoxide?
It’s an odourless and tasteless gas given off by appliances such as gas heaters, boilers, or fires. It can cause seriousness illness or even death when inhaled, so it’s important to take it seriously.
What is a carbon monoxide detector and why do I need one?
The most important reason is to keep you and your family safe. A carbon monoxide detector will alert you if carbon monoxide is coming from something in your home, and give you time to take action.
How do I get a carbon monoxide detector?
IIt’s a legal requirement that every home rented by Connect has a Carbon Monoxide Detector wherever there is a gas burning appliance such as a boiler or fire (gas cookers are exempt).
If you believe you need one and don’t have one, please get in touch.
What should I do if my carbon monoxide detector sounds or I think I have carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Switch off any gas appliances you may have been using.
- Ventilate, Evacuate, Alert
-Ventilate the property by opening windows and doors.
-Evacuate the property immediately, this includes everyone.
-Alert the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. - Visit your GP or hospital if you believe you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide.
- Inform Connect Housing so we can initiate our carbon monoxide investigation procedure. Its important you let us know as soon as possible as your gas will have been capped off at the mains by the National Gas Emergency Service and it can’t be turned back on until we have completed our investigation.
Why are cookers exempt if they also burn gas?
Gas boilers and fires have what is called a flue. This pushes any fumes out of the home and into the outside atmosphere, rather than inside your home. Cookers, however, do not have a flue and so any fumes from cooking with gas are released into the immediate area.
Some helpful tips when it comes to cooking…
- Don’t use pots and pans that are too big for the gas ring. Oversized pots and pans prevent oxygen getting to the gas ring which is needed to provide a good clean burn.
- Keep your hob and gas rings clean and free of food debris and grease build up.
- Open a window or door to ventilate the kitchen when cooking. Even in winter pop it open briefly. Ventilation is really important when cooking with gas.
- Look out for yellow or orange, rather than blue flames, this could indicate a poor burn.