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Original poster

Carbon monoxide alarm has just gone off

112 replies

Elasticatedwaist · 09/04/2023 21:04

It’s the ventilate symbol that’s flashing. I’ve opened the windows. What do I do ?
dh is really blaze says it might just be the glue that he’s been using today to fit the new wood floor but I’m worried I’ve candles lit and the log burner on.
I’ve no idea about co2 other than it’s a silent killer.

OP posts:
Aerosarethebest · 09/04/2023 21:07

Opening the window should sort the issue? Blowing out the candles will help. The log burner should be ventilated sufficiently via the chimney. The alarm is still working so it will tell you if the CO builds up too much again.

Kialla · 09/04/2023 21:07

I work for a gas network, please call the national emergency number ASAP

0800 111 999

They will be more than happy to come out and check your home us safe. Carbon monoxide is incredibly dangerous and can affect you very quickly.

I'd also open all doors and windows if you can't leave the property.

Aerosarethebest · 09/04/2023 21:08

If you can get a breeze going through the house that will help faster than just having the window open.

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 21:10

You phone the emergency gas number. This happened to me last year, got home and it was going off so phoned the emergency gas number and they make me switch my gas and electric off entirely and leave the property immediately. A gas engineer was at my door less than 20 mins later to check it our. DO NOT just open your windows and ignore it, glue is not releasing carbon monoxide.

lljkk · 09/04/2023 21:10

meh, mine goes off when nothing at all is happening in the house. Weird devices.

Lemursandions · 09/04/2023 21:10

Please ring the number above - I had to one evening, the person who came out was so helpful and checked my whole house. It wasn’t a leak in my case but he honestly couldn’t have been nicer

sanityisamyth · 09/04/2023 21:11

CO, not CO2.

Ring the number pp mentioned.

Original poster
Elasticatedwaist · 09/04/2023 21:29

It’s not beeping now. Dh has closed the windows to see if it goes off again. I’ve asked him to call the number but he seems to think it’s a false alarm. Ffs

OP posts:
Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 21:31

Is there a reason you can’t call the number yourself? Could well be a false alarm, but on an invisible odourless gas I wouldn’t chance it, the gas number doesn’t charge for the call out if that’s what you are worried about.

IShouldProbablyHooverMore · 09/04/2023 21:38

This happened to us in the middle of the night. Called the emergency number, engineer was with us within the hour. Please don't ignore it. Yes it's probably nothing, but it's not a risk that's worth taking.

Original poster
Elasticatedwaist · 09/04/2023 21:40

No I can call them but dh thinks I’m over reacting and i quite often am so wasn’t sure. I’ve gone outside and into his man cave now with the dog and asked him to call them. Hopefully he will.
would it be leaking from a gas central heating pipe ?

OP posts:
bigbluebus · 09/04/2023 21:42

The OP hasn't said that she's got gas. Why would she ring the gas network?
I've got a Carbon monoxide monitor but there's no gas within a few miles of my house. The monitor is for the log burner. If it went off I'd call the chimney sweep ASAP.
My DM had a monitor which went off when she was in hospital. The neighbour heard it when he was picking up the post. He called British Gas who did come out and said it was a fault with the monitor. We got a new one from B&Q

ZeroWorshipHere · 09/04/2023 21:44

Ring them yourself - why leave it to your DH when people have assured you you aren’t overreacting

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 21:49

bigbluebus · 09/04/2023 21:42

The OP hasn't said that she's got gas. Why would she ring the gas network?
I've got a Carbon monoxide monitor but there's no gas within a few miles of my house. The monitor is for the log burner. If it went off I'd call the chimney sweep ASAP.
My DM had a monitor which went off when she was in hospital. The neighbour heard it when he was picking up the post. He called British Gas who did come out and said it was a fault with the monitor. We got a new one from B&Q

She said Hopefully he will.
would it be leaking from a gas central heating pipe ?

Which very clearly suggests she’s got gas. They can still come out and check if there is dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide in the house, chimney sweep may not get there with that detector within the hour.

tinyblackcat · 09/04/2023 21:56

I had a friend who died of CO2 poisoning.

Please call the emergency number.

Original poster
Elasticatedwaist · 09/04/2023 21:56

Yes gas boiler in kitchen and log burner in living room which is where the alarm is. Does he call the gas or the chimney sweep ?

OP posts:
tinyblackcat · 09/04/2023 21:56

Carbon monoxide, sorry. I always get those confused.

Diversion · 09/04/2023 21:57

How long ago did you have your chimney swept? If you have your log burner lit there could be a blockage. Jackdaws and crows are nesting at the moment so it could be a nest blocking your chimney.

Original poster
Elasticatedwaist · 09/04/2023 22:00

It was swept last September

OP posts:
JimmyDurham · 09/04/2023 22:02

Don't piss about on MN. Ring the number. You don't want these messages read out at an inquest do you?

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:04

If you call the emergency number they will come to your house and shut off your gas supply. You will then have to get a Gas Safe engineer to come and check everything before it can be reconnected. This could take a while, especially over a bank holiday weekend.
The emergency guy will not be able to tell ether your system is safe or not, particularly if you’ve had the windows open, as any carbon monoxide may well have disappeared by then. But even if they don’t detect any they will shut down your gas supply.
Take the alarm outside and reset it. The detector will go off again if there is carbon monoxide present. We’ve had two false alarms and each time had to wait for days for expensive reconnection.
Best thing is to have two or three detectors, and then if only one is going off you’ll know it’s probably a false alarm.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 09/04/2023 22:05

Is the gas boiler turned off?

RunnerDown · 09/04/2023 22:06

I have had carbon monoxide poisoning. Initial symptoms were very insidious but eventually I had a very sore head, became confused and then collapsed. By that time I wasnt thinking clearly enough to seek help. Luckily my df wasn’t in the house at the time time and arrived back in time to sort things out.
since then its absolutely not something I would take a risk with

IMustDoMoreExercise · 09/04/2023 22:08

Kialla · 09/04/2023 21:07

I work for a gas network, please call the national emergency number ASAP

0800 111 999

They will be more than happy to come out and check your home us safe. Carbon monoxide is incredibly dangerous and can affect you very quickly.

I'd also open all doors and windows if you can't leave the property.

I think that I might be forced to have smart meters soon.

The reason that I have not had one yet is because I am worried about it not being fitted correctly and blowing my house up.

Who should I get then checked by after they are fitted?

Thanks

User639762456 · 09/04/2023 22:11

Is the boiler on as well as the log burner, if the boiler is not running it's likely to be the log burner