By Mohammed Miah, Gas Safe registered heating engineer
A gas leak usually has a warning smell added to it deliberately. Carbon monoxide has none of that. It's colourless, odourless and tasteless, which is exactly what makes it so dangerous, you can be exposed to a dangerous level with no obvious sign anything is wrong.
Where it comes from
Carbon monoxide is produced when gas doesn't burn completely, usually because of a fault in an appliance, a blocked flue, or poor ventilation. Boilers, gas fires, cookers and any other gas appliance can produce it if something's gone wrong. This is one of the main things an annual service checks for, correct combustion and a clear flue.
Symptoms to watch for
- Headaches, dizziness or nausea, especially if they ease when you leave the house and return when you're back.
- Tiredness or confusion that doesn't have an obvious cause.
- Chest or muscle pain, particularly if several people in the household have similar symptoms at similar times.
- Symptoms that feel like flu, but without a temperature.
The one thing every home with gas needs
An audible carbon monoxide alarm, fitted in line with the manufacturer's instructions, usually in the same room as a gas appliance. It's inexpensive, it doesn't rely on you noticing symptoms, and it's the single most effective backstop against carbon monoxide poisoning. If you don't already have one, it's worth sorting this week, not eventually.
If your alarm ever sounds, treat it exactly like a gas leak: ventilate, get everyone outside into fresh air, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
