Carbon monoxide produced when fuels do not burn fully

Gas appliances which are not working properly can cause explosions and also give off poisonous carbon monoxide fumes.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. It is a highly poisonous gas. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but it can kill quickly or cause serious injury with no warning. Symptoms include feeling tired and/or unwell, having headaches, chest pains and/or dizziness.

Danger signs of carbon monoxide on or around gas appliances can include:

• Yellow or brown staining around or on appliances
• Pilot lights that frequently blow out
• Increased condensation inside windows
• Yellow rather than blue flames (except for living flame fires).

The build-up of carbon monoxide can be a result of:

• Appliances that have not been serviced or looked after properly
• Burning fuel in an enclosed or unventilated space, where there are no air vents, windows or doors left open or ajar
• Poor or improper installation or use of appliances - such as cooking and heating devices
• Faulty or damaged appliances - heating or cooking
• Heating appliance not maintained or serviced
• Poorly ventilated rooms - sealed windows, no air bricks
• Blocked chimneys or flues - birds’ nests, fallen bricks, growing vegetation, bad DIY
• Using cooking appliances for heating purposes.

If you have a carbon monoxide detector which alerts you to the presence of this gas or you believe that you may be suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning you should:

- turn off the heating appliance immediately
- open your doors and windows
- vacate the premises
- telephone gas supplier Cadent on 0800 111 999
- seek medical advice

After Cadent have attended your property and you have received medical advice, including a blood test, we will then arrange for a heating engineer to attend your property to investigate further.