To have thought carbon monoxide has a smell?!

[Aghhhk]

I thought when you smell gas that was carbon monoxide… am I wrong?

Yes, you are wrong. Carbon monoxide is odourless.

Yes, you are wrong. Carbon monoxide does not smell.

Yes you are wrong. Carbon monoxide is odourless, that’s why it’s so dangerous.

The gass you can smell is from your cooker, boiler etc... it has something added to it to make you smell. Thats a gas leak.

Carbon monoxide is caused by fires etc not burning properly. Its known as the silent killer. You can't smell it.

Google it! There isn't a smell. My entire family once almost died due to a faulty boiler.

Are you mixing it up with natural gas such as methane? A smell is actually added to that in Science labs etc for safety.

You’re wrong. That’s why everyone should have carbon monoxide detectors.

Yes, you are wrong. CO (carbon monoxide) is colourless and odourless which is why it kills so easily. Also, people who have died of it have lovely, rosy cheeks so just look asleep.

In Australia, our piped gas has a stenchant added to it so that you can smell when there is a problem.

Natural gas is technically odourless too, but gas companies put sulfur compounds in so it becomes detectable. You would never notice carbon monoxide by its odour.

I don’t understand how carbon monoxide can occur then?

Why is there a smell in gas we use if that’s not the dangerous one?

It’s also a component of car exhaust which is why rear windows on station wagons no longer open. Australia found that out the hard way.

What does oxygen smell like? Or carbon dioxide?

Because kitchen gas can also be dangerous, as it can catch fire

When something burns in a place without sufficient oxygen, there isn't enough oxygen to make carbon dioxide. So carbon monoxide is made.

Carbon monoxide can bind to blood cells easier than oxygen, so when you breathe it in, it stops your body getting oxygen.

Natural gas explodes when it meets an ignition source. Something as simple as turning on a light switch. So when you see those pictures in the news of a house thats exploded... thats been caused by a build up of natural gas from a gas leak that has then ignited.

Dangerous in different ways.

@BlondiePortz but how is carbon monoxide created? If it’s from a fire then isn’t that going to be obvious that’s happening?

Well they add a smell to gas because it is dangerous if there's a leak and something ignites it.

Carbon monoxide occurs when there's been incomplete combustion of a carbon based fuel....normally burning makes CO2 (carbon dioxide. If there's poor ventilation and not enough oxygen it makes carbon monoxide instead which is deadly to us. Think poorly maintained boiler, smouldering barbecue in a contained space like a tent etc.

It kills because it bonds to the haemoglobin in our blood and prevents us absorbing oxygen...which is why blue lips is a sign.

How are you going to add a smell to a byproduct of burning?

That's like trying to add salt to your chips after you've eaten them..

Get a carbon monoxide alarm.. today!

@TickingAlongNicely thank you. So wouldn’t you know about carbon monoxide simply due to the fact there’s something burning and on fire?

If the flame is orange in the gas hob/flame, there's carbon monoxide being produced. You can't see or smell the cm gas though.

Google is your friend here.
https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/toxins/index.html

But my simplistic understanding is that it isn't the gas that is powering the fire, carbon monoxide is produced BY the burning. It also occurs with non gas fires.
It's why you charcoal bbqs have warnings on to not cook on them inside your house, or to bring them inside a tent while camping.

But most importantly, you should 100% have a carbon monixide alarm in your home, don't worry if you don't understand, buy it anyway!

Carbon monoxide leaks occur when faulty gas appliances don't burn methane properly and it comes in to your house instead of going out the flu. This can be caused by a blockage like an insect nest.

No! It’s usually a fault with your boiler. If you’re getting heating and hot water why would you suspect carbon monoxide? It also comes from pollution, living near a busy road or airport and even from smoking.

Methyl mercaptan is added to natural gas to give it a smell so you can detect it.

Be safe, buy a carbon monoxide detector.

The gas that is piped into houses is dangerous - if it leaks out unburned there can be a huge explosion killing lots of people. Most gas ovens now have safety features where the device detects that the gas is being burned and shuts off the gas supply if not, but older ovens don't. If enough gas has built up in a room that you can smell the gas smell additive then a spark from switching on a light can ignite it and cause a fire ball.

In normal combustion, hydrocarbons burn with oxygen to make CO² (carbon dioxide) and water H²O, and the smelly gas additive is burned away so that your house doesn't stink. If a gas appliance is faulty and there's not enough oxygen, the hydrocarbons still burn but CO (carbon monoxide) is made instead of CO² and if that builds up undetected everyone in the house just gets really sleepy and dies in their sleep. Get a Carbon monoxide detector.