Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week takes place this year between 16 – 22 November with the aim of raising awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and the steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Known as the silent killer because is it both colourless and odourless, victims often don’t realise they are being poisoned until they begin to feel the effects. People who are poisoned over a length of time will often display symptoms ranging from headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, lack of concentration, memory loss, disorientation, irritability and tightness across the chest. CO kills by stealth, but you can put protection in place to ensure your family is safe. At Seager Home Solutions we do encourage households to buy a Carbon Monoxide alarm. A good one will set you back around £25.

• Check the flame colour of the appliance (if it is burning orange it is not operating properly and could be emitting CO gas).
• Have your appliance(s) serviced every year by someone qualified to work on them. All people working with gas have to be Gas Safe Registered by law.
• Maintain all appliances adequately – check in the case of boilers that the flue is not blocked, remove any debris, obstructions or plants from the flue area.
• Make sure there is adequate ventilation in your home, not only to vent out any noxious gasses but also to allow oxygen and fresh air into the home.
• If you are a tenant you should have a safety certificate. Your landlord has to by law have appliances checked yearly and should have a CO detector fitted.
• If you suffer from headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, lack of concentration, memory loss, disorientation, irritability and tightness across the chest you may be suffering from CO poisoning. Ask your doctor for a CohB test.
• Don’t use open flames, ovens, etc., to heat your home – use appliances only for the purpose they are intended.

Remember it is not just your boilers that are at risk, anything that goes through the process of combustion can produce carbon monoxide. Cookers, water heaters, oil burners, gas fires, open fires, engines and solid fuel appliances can all produce CO.

If you have any queries or would like to book a service then call us on 01473 824884.