Warning Signs of a Carbon Monoxide Leak

Any of the following could be warning signs of a Carbon Monoxide leak in your home:

Flames of a lazy yellow or orange colour on your gas hob, rather than being a crisp blue
Dark staining on/around appliances
Pilot light that frequently blow out
Increased condensation inside windows

Faulty appliances in your home can lead to Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Get your gas appliances checked regularly to avoid this.

The Benefits of Having a Carbon Monoxide Alarm

An audible Carbon Monoxide alarm will alert you to the warning signs of a Carbon Monoxide leak by detecting the presence of the poisonous gas in your home. Although no substitute for having your gas appliances serviced and checked regularly, fitting an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm in your property is strongly recommended as a second line of defence.

Modern Carbon Monoxide alarms are similar in design to smoke alarms (which do not detect Carbon Monoxide) and can be purchased from around £15 at many major retail outlets including DIY stores and supermarkets. Before purchasing an alarm, make sure it is marked to EN 50291 and has the British Standards Kitemark or another European approval organisation’s mark on it. We do not recommend the use of ‘black spot detector’ warning strips – they are too easy to miss and won’t alert you if you have a Carbon Monoxide leak when you’re asleep.

It’s advisable to fit an alarm in every room with a gas appliance. When installing and positioning the alarm make sure you refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, audible Carbon Monoxide alarms have a battery life of up to 5 years. If you’re unsure which alarm to get, you can ask a Gas Safe registered engineer for advice.

What To Do If You Suspect A Carbon Monoxide Leak

Read our article on The 6 Main Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning to check if you have any symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning, but if you suspect you have a Carbon Monoxide leak we suggest doing the following:

Get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows, turn off gas appliances and leave the house.
See your doctor immediately or go to hospital – let them know that you suspect Carbon Monoxide poisoning. They can do a blood or breath test to check.
If you think there is an immediate danger, call the Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999.
Ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect your gas appliances and flues to see if there is a dangerous problem.

To find engineers who are qualified to investigate the presence of fumes, follow the link to the ‘Find by Location’ page. Enter your postcode and select either Domestic or Commercial Appliances and press ‘Find’. Under the ‘Select appliance type’ tab chose ‘Fumes Investigation’. Remember to click ‘Find’ again to see the updated results.