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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you have a carbon monoxide alarm and if no, why not?

115 replies

Letitsnow9 · 18/02/2015 19:10

Would Ibu to ask if any of you have gas but don't have an alarm? Saw a poster on here whose daughter died from carbon monoxide and our alarm saved our families life (we hadnt always had one, we used to have the colour changing dots which wouldn't of notified us like the alarm did). Ours was £20 but you can get them cheaper

OP posts:
ProvisionallyAnxious · 18/02/2015 22:15

Don't have one - over the last few years we've moved a lot, some flats with gas, some without, something we always forgot to do. However we are now fairly settled in a flat with a somewhat aged boiler. This thread prompted me into action and I have just ordered one from amazon! Thanks OP. Smile

HelenaDove · 18/02/2015 22:18

carol i will remember that comment for the next time you tell ppl on benefits/tax credits to take responsibility.

specialsubject · 18/02/2015 22:25

yes, near the logburner - no mains gas supply though.

The property I rent out does have gas, and has a monitor. Wow, a landlord doing something that is good practice but isn't a legal requirement. Who would have thought?

IthoughtATMwasacashpoint · 18/02/2015 22:34

Mine was fitted when the wood burner was installed.

Oldraver · 18/02/2015 22:50

I've had one since they became available. I have twice been in a house with a boiler giving out carbon monoxide..I wouldn't be without one

MsPavlichenko · 18/02/2015 23:33

No idea why someone would knowingly do without. My DDad died at 40 of CM poisoning. Mum was 41, sister only 12 and I was 18. Devastating for us, my DGPS and his many family and friends. He never got to see his DDs grow up, or meet his beautiful DGC. Please get one fitted if you don't have one.

meglet · 18/02/2015 23:36

yes.

blowing I take mine on holiday. my family think I'm nuts.

NotALondoner · 18/02/2015 23:37

I am really sorry, MsPavlichenko.

I really hope caroldecker reads what you have written.

StetsonsAreCool · 18/02/2015 23:46

Room sealed boilers can still leak, although it's rare. And CO can get through walls, so if you're in a semi, flat or your boiler is in an integral garage, you could still be a victim of a leak.

Regular servicing and maintenance of any fuel burning appliances also v v important, prevention is better than cure etc.

Also, try and choose one with a built in battery, as the replaceable ones can go quickly. And remember that CO alarms detect in a different way to smoke alarms, so they rarely false alarm. If yours goes off, believe it. Ventilate and evacuate then call the relevant energy people (gas/oil/solid fuel engineer).

BeCool · 19/02/2015 00:05

I took mine on holiday and forgot to bring it back. Must get another.

Gruntfuttock · 19/02/2015 00:08

We have 2 carbon monoxide alarms and 2 smoke alarms.

BreconBeBuggered · 19/02/2015 00:13

If you have one, check it to see it's still in date. I recently had my boiler etc serviced and the engineer pointed out that the alarm had gone past its expiry date. It was too far out of my line of vision for me to have noticed , and DH couldn't read it without his glasses, which he doesn't routinely wear for wandering around the house.

abas · 19/02/2015 10:14

It was my daughter that died of carbon monoxide. Someone said they didn't have gas - Just to say that even if you are in an all electric house but adjoining another house or flat that has gas, you are in danger of it coming through - as in the case of Dominic Rodgers. Please watch our new video on www.katiehaines.com and it shows you CO comes from a variety of sources, not just a boiler.

LucyHT · 19/02/2015 12:41

I've just signed this petition epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/64486 and will be getting two for us, we have an open fire and an old woodburner - I'll send the bill to my landlord!

Nomama · 19/02/2015 13:50

No. But only because one of the fixing points is a low ceiling and we haven't finished moving furniture in yet - it got knocked off, with a bot of the ceiling. So as soon as we have got the furniture in it will go back up.

mummymeister · 19/02/2015 15:17

we have one. we have always had one since they became available because of the various sources it comes from. CO is a silent killer and very quick. we have no gas but do have a wood burner now. its like smoke alarms really. you don't need them until you do and when you do, you really need them.

Showy · 19/02/2015 15:27

To answer questions about where you put them. They should be at head height and not next to the appliance they are monitoring. Other side of the room is ideal. We have one on the piano on the opposite side of the room to our wood burner. The other is on a bookcase on the other side of the room of the upstairs boiler.

IAmAPaleontologist · 19/02/2015 15:28

Yes we have 2 sealed units. No gas but a stove for the heating so one in the room and one in the room above. We take them on holiday too.

Nomama · 19/02/2015 15:30

And in case anyone takes me to task for fitting mine on the ceiling, it is a very low ceiling in the living room Smile

ghostland · 19/02/2015 15:31

Yes, I have one of each - carbon monxide alarm and fire alarm.

JackieTheFart · 19/02/2015 15:32

We used to have on of those sticker types.

When those children died a few years ago on holiday with their dad, I went out and bought one of the alarm types.

Abas so sorry for your loss Flowers

MarvinKMooney · 19/02/2015 15:39

We've always had one near the gas boiler, but it has never occurred to me to put one near the wood burning stove. Eek.

Off to buy one tomorrow.

vinoandbrie · 19/02/2015 15:41

Yes, we have one. Wouldn't be without it, especially with kids.

worldgonecrazy · 19/02/2015 15:51

We have a battery powered one for the woodburner, and I think that our wired in ceiling alarms are joint smoke/carbon monoxide alarms.

FluffyJawsOfDoom · 19/02/2015 15:54

We have one but I didn't realise it needed changing every 7 years. I will buy a new one x