The sanctity of the home is renowned worldwide. Settling down for a warm meal and watching the television can be just what the doctor ordered after a long day. Your house embodies family spirit and nothing can harm you or your family within the confinements of your four walls. Well, almost nothing.
Many households tick along day by day with no problem, and that's great news. Appliances run like clockwork and there is no evidence of any harm. If you can't see, smell or even taste an issue then there should be nothing to worry about.
There is a potential pest that is always a danger that often goes undetected until it is too late. Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning is responsible for around 30 deaths every year in England and Wales. It is naturally colourless and odourless and so is impossible to detect by human sense alone. A scary thought to say the least.
Carbon monoxide is a result of fuels not burning fully and properly. If it is inhaled, CO enters the bloodstream and compounds with haemoglobin and prevents blood from transporting oxygen around the body, in turn killing vital cells and tissues.
CO can give a few clues as to its lingering status. Suspicious signs include:
- Flu like symptoms. This is especially suspicious if more than one person in your household falls ill. Carbon monoxide poisoning doesn't generally result in a fever that the flu usually does.
- If these symptoms seem to disappear out of the home and reappear upon entrance then you may have a problem. Similarly, if symptoms seem seasonal - around the time heating is used the most, poisoning may be the reason.
- Signs of soot accumulation around and marks on or around appliances may be evidence of high levels of CO.
- Gas appliance flames should burn blue. Yellow flames may indicate trouble. Some appliances are set up to mimic flames of solid fuel appliances and so never burn blue. Make sure you know what colour they should normally be.
- An unusual excess of condensation can imply that there may a problem.
Even though you cannot physically distinguish the presence of carbon monoxide, there are measures you can take to reduce the risk of the poisonous gas causing mayhem in your home.
Make sure that a CO alarm is fitted and in working order. You may not be able to determine whether CO levels are dangerously high but a detector certainly can. As of October 2015, landlords are legally obliged to provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in rented accommodation. The installation of an alarm should never be substitute for CO reducing precautions.
- Always ensure that gas appliances are fitted and serviced only by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.
- Check the ID card of an engineer who comes to your home. The back of the card will display their skillset and enable you to confirm that they are competent with the job at hand.
- Chimneys and flues should be cleaned and swept in a regular basis. If these are blocked, it can prevent CO escape and cause a dangerous build-up of the gas.
- Every room should have apt ventilation to increase the chances of any produced carbon monoxide to filter out and leave cleaner, safer breathing air.
If for any reason you suspect that anybody in your home is affected by carbon monoxide poisoning, do not hesitate to take action. Get it checked out as soon as possible and get out of the home until a Gas Safe Registered engineer can clarify the safety of the household.
Source : articlesbase.com
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