Author Topic: My carbon monoxide detector is going off  (Read 9303 times)

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« on: 17 December, 2010, 06:59:00 pm »
Well, it went off once, saying the carbon monoxide level was 999ppm which is way too high. So I reset it, and it went off again. So I've had to turn the gas off at the mains, which means no heating, open the window (excellent, it's well below freezing) and the gas engineer will be here within 2 hours. And while I was on the phone to Transco, it went off again.

I wonder if this is why I've been feeling fluey, headachey and queasy this week. I thought I was just coming down with something. I do have the boiler serviced annually, so I am not happy.
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Pancho

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #1 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:02:11 pm »
Either your detector is stuffed or it's maxed out and you're lucky to be with us still.

Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #2 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:05:18 pm »
Glad you're still with us - Are your eyes streaming?
In a previous workplace I complained for weeks about streaming eyes before the cause was found to be carbon monoxide leaking from the heating system  :(

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #3 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:08:02 pm »
Either your detector is stuffed or it's maxed out and you're lucky to be with us still.
I doubt it's stuffed because it's only a few months old. Still, it's cheaper to replace a carbon monoxide detector than a boiler so here's hoping.

No streaming eyes, but headachey since Wednesday, and came home at lunchtime and went to bed feeling like flu was about to descend. Sore throat, feeling generally bleurgh. So now the gas is off at the mains, window is open and I'm at a very real risk of hypothermia.
My feminist marxist dialectic brings all the boys to the yard.


Kim

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #4 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:08:53 pm »
Gas could be coming from an adjacent property.  Consider getting outside.

And just in case you're not aware: CO poisoning is cumulative.  You can' t just go outside and breathe good air for a bit.

My sister-out-of-law nearly got into serious trouble through not knowing this.  Fault was eventually traced to an appliance in the flat below.

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #5 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:11:38 pm »
Yeah, I know. I have the windows open so I reckon I'm ok for now. If the gas engineer confirms carbon monoxide, I'll go get myself seen by a doctor. And I can't go anywhere else cos I have to wait in for the engineer.
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Kim

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #6 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:15:08 pm »
Here's hoping it's just a faulty detector and a bit of seasonal lurgy...

Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #7 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:16:47 pm »
Natural gas isn't poisonous. CO results from incomplete combustion so there may be a leak from the boiler flue. If you report the problem to Transco they'll just come and isolate the incoming gas supply to shut the boiler off as their responsibility stops on the incoming mains side of the gas meter.

Recommend (a) new CO detector and (b) get boiler engineer out. Must be a "GasSafe" registered engineer.  Not necessarily in that order.

If you suspect CO poisoning, then leave a note on the front door for the engineer and go round a neighbours for tea and warmth. Don't stay there and get further exposure.

Jaded

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #8 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:17:16 pm »
Yikes!

Fingers crossed.
It is simpler than it looks.

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #9 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:18:13 pm »
I'm not getting any further exposure. There is no combustion going on because the gas is off at the mains and the window is wide open. Once Transco have been out and decided what's what, I will phone my boiler maintenance people.
My feminist marxist dialectic brings all the boys to the yard.


rogerzilla

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #10 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:18:59 pm »
Is your skin any pinker/redder than normal?
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Kim

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #11 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:26:05 pm »
I'm reminded of a story I read about someone discovering a CO leak when they picked up the cat who liked to sleep on top of the boiler and dropped it on the floor, it was too groggy to do the landing-on-its-feet thing and just went *thunk*.  They suddenly realised the flu the family had been suffering from wasn't, and the boiler was promptly condemned.  Everyone, including the cat, was checked over and eventually made a full recovery.

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #12 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:26:26 pm »
I did think I was looking flushed at work, but I sit next to the radiator, and I wasn't feeling well. I know what the symptoms of CO poisoning are, and I have them, but they're also the symptoms of coming down with a bug. So once we know if there is a carbon monoxide problem, I will know whether or not to get medical advice.
My feminist marxist dialectic brings all the boys to the yard.


hellymedic

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #13 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:46:18 pm »
People with CO poisoning don't really look any pinker than normal healthy people; they just don't look pale or blue when they're dead, like 'normal' stiffs.

Kim

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #14 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:50:17 pm »
And besides, normal healthy people look pale greeny brown anyway.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #15 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:52:59 pm »
And besides, normal healthy people look pale greeny brown anyway.
You must know some people who aren't zombies or goths, surely?
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Kim

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #16 on: 17 December, 2010, 07:56:06 pm »
You must know some people who aren't zombies or goths, surely?

One or two, but I'm still protanopic.   :D

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #17 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:00:45 pm »
Transco have been out, but they are not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors (he is about as happy about that as I am) so the best he could do was say keep the windows open and the boiler off until the boiler engineer has inspected it. I think I might have to go to bed with my slanket as the current temperature is -234C. Am now on hold to the boiler emergency helpline. Their calming onhold music is not calming.
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Biggsy

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #18 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:07:40 pm »
Transco have been out, but they are not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors

That's like a bus driver not being equipped with a bus.
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Kim

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #19 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:08:32 pm »
Or a BT engineer.

Gattopardo

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #20 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:11:42 pm »
You are not near me.

Have a sniffer but am no where near you.


Insert panty sniffing joke.

Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #21 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:12:28 pm »
Transco have been out, but they are not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors

 :facepalm:

Eccentrica Gallumbits

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #22 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:17:29 pm »
Boiler engineer will ring me tomorrow to make appointment. I hope they can come tomorrow. Am now on phone to NHS24. Bloke has sexy Geordie accent.
My feminist marxist dialectic brings all the boys to the yard.


CrinklyLion

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #23 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:23:52 pm »
Kirst - if there's even a remote chance of there being a medical prob, get it checked now.  At least A&E will be warm.  Then sleep somewhere else until your place has been checked out properly!  There must be someone you can go stay with. 

The only other option if you stay at yours, you see, will be that in order to avoid hypothermia you put on every item of clothing that you own (and the corset will look peculiar with the slanket) then open all the windows and then post on here approx every 4 minutes all through the night so that we don't all worrit about you.

Kim

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Re: My carbon monoxide detector is going off
« Reply #24 on: 17 December, 2010, 08:26:37 pm »
Or you could go for a bike ride...