Boiler trouble
What's invisible, has no taste and yet kills about 50 people in the UK in their own homes every year?
It's not a riddle or a sick joke - the answer is carbon monoxide!
You can't see it, you can't smell it or taste it. Carbon monoxide or CO, is not confined to the test tubes of some distant laboratory or the product of an industrial plant - it is produced by all fossil fuel burning appliances, such as the car and central heating system, boiler, gas water heaters and gas fires.
It can be produced in dangerous quantities when a gas or other fuel appliances haven't been installed or serviced properly and even when a chimney flue or another ventilation source has become blocked. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be mistaken for other common maladies and the symptoms can look like flu.
Many people do not know how old their central heating system is. Most people replace their car every five years or so, but latest figures show that millions of boilers exist which are fairly old and may need to be serviced. Old boilers are a particular risk; even a new boiler appliance that has not been serviced properly could be a danger. Too many of us fail to realise that by simply ensuring all gas appliances are regularly serviced or that even by installing a CO detector, we can protect ourselves and families against the small risk of CO poisoning in the home.
At particular risk can be students in rented accommodation and most do not know about carbon monoxide, their rights and responsibilities.
What to check?
- Is my central heating system running safely and efficiently?
- Is my system properly ventilated?
- Are detectors available and if so what is the best type?
- How can I tell if my system is a risk?
- How can I minimise the risk of dangerous levels of CO emission?
- Do I know my rights as a tenant regarding gas servicing?
- Do I know what steps I can take to ensure my appliances are safe and regularly serviced?
What are your rights?
If you live in rented accommodation with any form of gas heater (such as gas fires, gas water heating or central heating), your landlord is legally required to get a CORGI-registered engineer to check all appliances every year. They should be able to produce a certificate to confirm that the appliances have been inspected.
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