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Do we all have working carbon monoxide detectors?

(53 Posts)
Anya Mon 02-Jan-17 22:46:39

My neighbours have just returned to their own house. Mother, father, daughter and son (home from uni) and both dogs. They were just settling down after their dinner to watch TV when their CO detector went off.

They came to us to see what to do. I told them to open all windows and doors and call the gas emergency services and to stay with us until the all clear. They arrived within 30 minutes and spent an hour dismantling their gas fire and checking the house had cleared of gas, before allowing them home.

This fire had been passed as safe during the summer, but as the gas man pointed out, this only means it was safe at that time, Faults can develop at any time.

I dread to think what could have happened if they had just settled down watching TV and this odourless gas had overcome them. The daughter is just recovering from heart surgery.

I hope this encourages others to check their CO monitors are working - if indeed you have one at all.

GrandmaMoira Thu 05-Jan-17 10:09:59

I wan't aware there was such an alarm, only smoke alarms. I don't even have my smoke alarm set up. I'll have to sort this out.

Cherrytree59 Thu 05-Jan-17 10:42:04

My DS & DIL a couple of years ago bought a repossessed house. The fire gas was boarded up and the boiler switched off. As they were taking fire out they had left it boarded.
A central heating engineer checked and put the boiler back on.
The next day my son said he was sure he could smell a sickly smell. I told him to leave the property and call gas emergency.
Gas emergency said there was several tiny holes in the gas pipe.
That consensus of opinion was that they had probably been made by the previous disgruntled owner.
I have made sure all my family have CO2 detectors as well as smoke alarms.
Can I please add that the fire service will come out on request and check and install smoke alarms free of charge
My SIL wears hearing aids but does not hear a normal smoke alarm.
The fire service arranged a special one to be installed and a vibrating alarm for under pillow.
All free of charge