Do you need to install a Carbon Monoxide alarm with a gas boiler? Here we answer the most frequently asked questions surrounding this potentially lethal gas.
Planning to have a combi boiler installed soon or already have one fitted?
If so, you’ll need to consider whether a carbon monoxide detector is needed.
We’ll answer this important safety question in the following guide and discuss other relevant topics such as how much a carbon monoxide detector costs and the major signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
PS we fit new boilers with gas installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and you could get it installed as quick as tomorrow.
Do You Need a Carbon Monoxide Alarm?
It is a legal requirement to have a carbon monoxide detector fitted in any room with a fixed combustion appliance with the exception of a gas cooker. This law has been on the books since 2015.
However, you should still have detectors installed even in some rooms where it is not legally required.
We strongly encourage you to have carbon monoxide alarms fitted in every room on your property that features a gas appliance or solid fuel heating.
This is to ensure your safety and that of anyone else in your home. Ultimately, the answer is yes, you need a carbon monoxide detector or detectors to go with a combi boiler installation.
This applies whether the fuel source of your home’s heating system is gas, oil, another fossil fuel or even if you have an open fire, such as one that uses wood.
The only type of central heating that would not necessitate the installation of carbon monoxide detectors for safety is purely electric heaters. If in doubt about how your central heating system works or/and its fuel sources, consult a gas safety engineer.
Carbon Monoxide is a Killer
The reason that a carbon monoxide alarm is so important is that carbon monoxide poisoning can be lethal. In fact, thirty people die from carbon monoxide poisoning annually in the UK.
A further 4,000 are hospitalised each year (an average of 76 people a week). Either way, carbon monoxide should be taken very seriously.
PS if you smell gas from your boiler this is an emergency and you should call the Emergency Gas number (0800 111 999) immediately.
What is Carbon Monoxide Exactly?
This extremely poisonous gas is the result of the incomplete burning of other materials/gases, namely natural gas, LPG, oil, petrol, coal or wood.
Carbon monoxide may result if appliances are fitted incorrectly, repaired incorrectly, not maintained as they should be or if there is a blockage in a vent, chimney, or/and flue.
The scary thing about carbon monoxide is that it is odourless, tasteless and invisible, meaning that you really need a working carbon monoxide detector or multiple working detectors for peace of mind.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
There are, of course, general signs of carbon poisoning. Hopefully, it will never get to that point, but we’ll lay out these symptoms for your awareness.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
Headaches.
Nausea.
Tiredness or confusion.
Of course, these symptoms are like those of the flu so if you have them, carbon monoxide poisoning won’t be number one on the list of possible explanations.
If you find that these symptoms go away when you’re out and about but worsen when you get back, however, it may be carbon monoxide poisoning.
This is even more likely if everyone on your property, including any pets you have, is suffering from the same symptoms as you.
Either way, if your symptoms worsen when you’re back home, you should go see your GP right away (as well as anyone in your home with the same symptoms).
Everyone should evacuate the property too. But those are not all the steps that should be taken if you suspect there is a carbon monoxide, leak so let’s look at that in a bit more detail.
Note: In more serious cases, people can collapse suddenly and long-term health damage or even death can result.
What to Do If You Suspect a Carbon Monoxide Leak?
Whether it be due to your carbon monoxide alarm going off or you or someone else showing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, certain steps should be taken in the event of a possible carbon monoxide leak.
Of course, someone with the symptoms should go to their GP right away and perhaps someone should drive them rather than them driving themselves.
Ultimately, the best judgement here would depend on how severe the symptoms are you don’t want to be waiting around unnecessarily for someone to pick you up.
Another symptomless person should deal with the property (for a brief timeframe) while others evacuate. Exactly how this could all be executed would depend on your situation including how many people live in your home. Use your best judgement to make the necessary decisions for your case.
What an ideally symptomless person should do amid a suspect carbon monoxide leak:
Open all doors and windows.
Turn off gas appliances.
Exit the property.
Note: The person should not turn on or off any electrics.
It is also advisable that those in the property without symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning visit the GP relatively soon after exiting the home just to be on the safe side.
You should call the Gas Emergency Helpline if you suspect any immediate danger including to your neighbours. The helpline can be reached on 0800 111 999.
You’ll also need to arrange to have a Gas Safe registered engineer out to check everything before re-entering your property.
Anyone seeing a GP for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning (or the potential risk of it being the case) would have their blood and breath tested.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Now that we’ve got the key health and safety points out of the way, let’s take a closer look at carbon monoxide alarms a.k.a. CO alarms.
What Are Carbon Monoxide Alarms?
These alarms/detectors function similarly to smoke alarms. If you have a carbon monoxide detector on your property, it will let out a loud beep to alert you to a possible carbon monoxide leakage.
It is best to have an audible CO alarm installed instead of one that simply changes colour. The latter would be of little use if it detected carbon monoxide while you are sleeping.
A CO alarm should be marked with a British or European approval mark (e.g., Kitemark) as well as being marked with ‘British Standard EN 50291’
Some other important notes regarding a carbon monoxide alarm are:
Its battery life when installed should stand at a minimum of five years.
You should test the alarm each week.
You should still have the relevant appliances serviced regularly regardless of whether you have a CO alarm.
In addition, you should be aware that a smoke alarm will not detect carbon monoxide, only a carbon monoxide alarm/detector will. It’s also best to bring a portable CO alarm with you if you’re going on holiday, just to be on the safe side!
But that’s not all. A carbon monoxide alarm ought to be set up in the right place in order to work correctly.
Where a Carbon Monoxide Alarm Should Go
Considering that carbon monoxide alarms save lives, it’s essential that they be fitted in the ideal places for detecting possible CO leaks.
Prior to installing a carbon monoxide detector, make sure that you read the manufacturer’s manual. This will cover everything you need to know from how to install the alarm, how to test it, and how/when to have it serviced. Don’t forget to check when to replace the batteries.
Where to install a Carbon Monoxide Alarm:
In any room featuring a fuel-burning appliance (e.g., a gas boiler, stove, or fire)
In any room where a flue from a fuel-burning appliance passes through*
*If you’re unsure which rooms this applies to, consult a professional.
For total peace of mind and maximum protection, consider fitting a CO detector in every room you spend time in during your waking hours as well as where you sleep (i.e., anywhere except say the attic, unless the attic is covered by one or both of the bullet points listed above, of course!).
There are some additional points to consider when it comes to where exactly in a given room a detector should be fitted. These would be to ensure it will detect carbon monoxide in the event of a leakage.
Here’s where to avoid installing a CO detector within a given room:
Don’t fit a CO alarm beside doors, windows, or fans.
Avoid fitting a CO detector in a damp place (e.g., a bathroom).
Don’t install one in an enclosed space (e.g., behind curtains/furniture or inside a cupboard).
Do not fit a carbon monoxide alarm beside a cooker hob or/and extractor fan.
There are a few other points to consider when installing a CO alarm. For one, if you’re fitting the detector in the same room as a fuel-burning appliance, the detector should be in the range of one to three metres away from the said appliance (in a horizontal direction).
Beyond that, should you decide to install the alarm on a ceiling, it should be a minimum of 30cm away from any light fixtures or walls.
Alternatively, you could fit your alarm on a wall or simply put it up on a shelf or bookcase. In the case of the latter, just make sure it’s not likely to fall over.
Whether on a wall or placed upon a location like a shelf, it should be set up a minimum of 15cm from the ceiling. It is preferable to install it higher than the level of any vents, doors or windows in the same room.
If you decide to fit an alarm in a room without a relevant appliance, be sure that you fit it at head height/breathing level. If suitable and it stands up okay, you could set it up on a shelf.
After installation, test your CO alarms on a regular basis. You should also replace the batteries once the low battery signal sets off.
Beyond that, make sure to have your gas appliances serviced each year by a Gas Safe engineer. Other fuel-burning appliances such as oil burning appliances should also be serviced as often as is recommended by the manufacturer and by a relevant professional.
Having fuel-burning appliances serviced as often as is recommended is an important way of maintaining them and reducing the risk of carbon monoxide leakage.
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