What Can Cause False Carbon Monoxide Readings

CO detectors, or carbon monoxide alarms, are essential for the detection of a deadly gas, carbon monoxide (CO). This gas cannot be seen, tasted or smelt and is only detected with the utilize of co detectors. It is produced through the incomplete combustion of fuel, such as gas, wood, coal and oil.

Before we continue to look at CO detector false alarms hither is some advice on what you should practise if your alert goes off.

What to do when your carbon monoxide alert is going off

If your CO detector is chirping practice not assume that information technology is a false alarm, retrieve carbon monoxide tin can't be seen, tasted or smelt. Y'all should presume that there is CO present and should follow these steps to ensure your prophylactic.

• Stay calm, open doors and windows to increase ventilation
• Where safe to do so, turn off any fuel-burning appliance
• Leave the premises and notify other occupants of the potential carbon monoxide leak (you should too notify any occupant of premises adjoined to your home equally CO tin seep through walls and floors
• Call Gas Emergency Services 0800 111 999 or a local Gas Safe Registered Engineer to check for the source of carbon monoxide
• Go medical help for anyone suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The chief symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:

Persistent Headaches

Having persistent dull headaches and tension type headaches.

Dizziness

Having waves of dizziness or feeling light headed and off balance.

Nausea / Vomiting

Feeling like you need to be sick (nausea) and actually being sick (vomiting).

Stomach Pains

Pains in your stomach or lower belly, sometimes accompanied by diarrhoea.

Difficulty Breathing

Sudden shortness of jiff or difficulty breathing (dyspnoea).

Tiredness

Having no energy or feeling tired, sleepy, lethargic and sluggish.

Sudden Plummet

Sudden plummet, seizures or loss of consciousness.

Confusion

Confusion, difficulty concentrating and becoming easily irritated.

What causes CO detector faux alarms?

A false warning is when your CO detector alarms and where no carbon monoxide is detected by your engineer. At that place could be several reasons for this:

• The carbon monoxide detected did not come from your own appliances only may have seeped through the walls or floor from a neighbour. Check if your neighbours have fuel-burning appliances that might emit carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide might escape from chimney stacks allowing carbon monoxide to enter your premises via a joint loft space.
• The replace-by date may take been exceeded. CO alarms get erratic once expired. This is the most common reason for simulated alarms.
• Excessive moisture from a bath may set off your CO alarm. CO alarms should not be installed in areas with excessive steam.
• Lead acid battery chargers produce hydrogen gas which sets off CO detectors. Go on this in mind if you are charging your caravan/boat battery at home.
• Freshly screeded floors emit a gas that sets off carbon monoxide alarms.
• The carbon monoxide alert that yous have installed may not be suitable for the blazon of bounds, for example if it is installed in a caravan, tent, boat or living quarters of a horsebox you will need to ensure that your alarm is Kitemarked to BS EN50291-ii. Alarms tested to BS EN50291-i are simply for use in home environments and are non suitable for camping ground and caravanning.
• On rare occasions if here is a heavy smoker in a room that is poorly ventilated the CO from smoking may trigger an alarm.
• Homes that are adjacent to very busy roads may feel higher levels of CO in the dwelling house when windows are open up as traffic fumes may enter the room and set your alarm off.
• The sound that your warning is making may not be the warning sound to alarm you lot that there are dangerous levels of CO nowadays. Most alarms take several audible sounds to indicate things such as low bombardment warning or that there is a error with the alarm. When you install an alarm read the user manual and go to know what the dissimilar sounds indicate. Keep the transmission safe then that you tin can refer to information technology should the alarm go off.

Buying a CO detector

Y'all should have a carbon monoxide detector in every room where there is a solid fuel burning appliance. Simply chose CO detectors that have met the rigorous testing standards of the European standard EN50291. That way you volition have peace of listen that this vital alarm has been manufactured and tested to the highest standards.

If y'all are looking for a CO detector that you can also take on vacation, for caravanning, camping ground or using on a boat await out for ones that are Kitemarked to BS EN50291-2 such as the Kidde 7CO. If you would like a detector that gives you a visual display of CO levels, we recommend the Kidde 7DCO.

Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alert - 7DCO / 7DCOC

• FREE commitment
• Product Life: 10 years
• Battery: replaceable AA alkaline batteries included
• Warranty: 10 yr warranty
• Displays CO levels from 10ppm
• Peak Level Memory - recalls highest CO levels
• Platonic for domestic use and camping ground, caravans & boats
• Kitemarked to BS EN50291-one and BS EN50291-2

£12.49 ex VAT

£14.99 inc VAT

Buy Now

If you are unsure if you have the correct carbon monoxide warning installed our customer intendance team are here to assistance. You lot can call them on 0800 612 6537 or email support@safelincs.co.united kingdom.

HR & Marketing Managing director

Angie has been our marketing director since joining in 2002. She also has a keen interest in H&Southward issues.

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Source: https://www.safelincs.co.uk/blog/2021/02/16/co-detectors-and-false-alarms/

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