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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:
Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:11

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.

This isn’t true, they don’t always shut down your gas supply.

BCBird · 09/04/2023 22:14

I was in.the middle of a call to.my.mate,when mine went off. I cut the call and went outside. Called emergency number. Someone came out. Turns out my coper of 13months was giving out toxic fumes in the extreme

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:14

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:11

This isn’t true, they don’t always shut down your gas supply.

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It happened to me three times in different properties. Always shut down. Once on a long Easter bank holiday weekend and I had no hot water for five days.

BCBird · 09/04/2023 22:14

Cooker. He put a condemned sign on it.

Bemyclementine · 09/04/2023 22:17

Why leave it to your other half OP. Just phone them yourself!

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:18

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:14

It happened to me three times in different properties. Always shut down. Once on a long Easter bank holiday weekend and I had no hot water for five days.

Show quote history

That’s some seriously bad luck! But they don’t always shut it off. I’d rather have no gas than risk dieing of carbon monoxide poisoning though.

BellePeppa · 09/04/2023 22:18

Mine went off once. I called the number straight away. They came and checked it and it turned out to be nothing but I would still call them if it happened again. Because you can’t smell or see it it can be dangerous to ignore.

Nimbostratus100 · 09/04/2023 22:19

lljkk · 09/04/2023 21:10

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

then you need an urgent safety check. It doesn't go off for "nothing" it goes of to alert you you are in danger

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:21

The detectors are really unreliable. Mine were all false alarms, according to the Gas Safe engineers.

AdoraBell · 09/04/2023 22:21

Have you called the emergency number? Don’t leave it to your DH.

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:22

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:21

The detectors are really unreliable. Mine were all false alarms, according to the Gas Safe engineers.

That doesn’t mean they are unreliable, unreliable would be not going off when carbon monoxide is present. Better a false alarm than no alarm.

Freeme31 · 09/04/2023 22:22

Why do you need your husband to phone, this is so important you must call immediately!! Listen to the gas engineer above FFS 🤦‍♀️

Brrrrrrrrrrrr · 09/04/2023 22:23

Just call the number OP. Do not be blasé about it.

Switchwitch · 09/04/2023 22:23

It's sounds like it's very likely to be the log burner so I'd open the windows and let it die out/put the fire out and get a chimney sweep round asap.

I'd also ring the emergency number in case it isn't the log burner.

Nimbostratus100 · 09/04/2023 22:24

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:14

It happened to me three times in different properties. Always shut down. Once on a long Easter bank holiday weekend and I had no hot water for five days.

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you write that as if it is a catastrophe. No hot water for 5 days is not catastrophe. Carbon monoxide poisoning is

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:24

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:22

That doesn’t mean they are unreliable, unreliable would be not going off when carbon monoxide is present. Better a false alarm than no alarm.

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Unreliable. By which I mean you can’t rely on them to give accurate information.

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:25

Nimbostratus100 · 09/04/2023 22:24

you write that as if it is a catastrophe. No hot water for 5 days is not catastrophe. Carbon monoxide poisoning is

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Agreed.
Which is why I recommended resetting the alarm and seeing if it goes off again.

3luckystars · 09/04/2023 22:27

Definitely get a professional opinion, it’s too big of a risk to take. The log burner might not have been installed properly. It could be anything. Don’t ignore it.

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:27

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:24

Unreliable. By which I mean you can’t rely on them to give accurate information.

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I think they are pretty good at going off when they detect carbon monoxide though. Your comment suggests OP should ignore it because they aren’t reliable. Not much point in having one if you ignore it going off though.

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:28

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:27

I think they are pretty good at going off when they detect carbon monoxide though. Your comment suggests OP should ignore it because they aren’t reliable. Not much point in having one if you ignore it going off though.

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I’m not suggesting she should ignore it. I’m suggesting she reset it and sees if it goes off again.

Elcapitano · 09/04/2023 22:29

Ring the number op. Chop chop!

StackBlocks · 09/04/2023 22:30

This happened to us last year. We called the number, they cut the supply to the boiler until British Gas could get out the next day, check the boiler and reconnect. It doesn’t cost anything for the emergency engineer to come out and they were very quick, please phone the number. We didn’t have to leave the house, just stay inside with the windows open, but they will tell you what to do. We had a faulty alarm but I wouldn’t take any chances with something like this.

Isanny · 09/04/2023 22:30

Carbon monoxide is a killer. I can't believe how flippant people are about it.

I hope you are having it checked

Coffeellama · 09/04/2023 22:31

Helenahandkart · 09/04/2023 22:28

I’m not suggesting she should ignore it. I’m suggesting she reset it and sees if it goes off again.

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But why if you don’t think they are reliable?

User639762456 · 09/04/2023 22:31

Most likely the log burner so put the fire out, reset the alarm. Have you got a monitor near your boiler as you should have one in each appliance room. It won't be a leak from your gas pipe, that is a gas leak, it will be your actual boiler not working properly for a CO leak