Home Safety Tips
What You Can Do...
•Buy only appliances approved by a nationally recognised
testing laboratory.
•Choose fuel-burning appliances that can be vented to the
outdoors, whenever possible.
•Make sure appliances are installed according to manufacturer’s
instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should
be installed by professionals and should be inspected by the
proper authority after installation.
•Have the heating system, vents, chimney and flue inspected
and cleaned by a Corgi registered installer, or Hetas approved
technician every year.
•Follow manufacturer’s directions for safe operation of all
fuel-burning appliances.
•Examine vents and chimneys regularly for improper connections,
visible rust or stains.
•Open a window when a fireplace or wood-burning stove is in
use, and provide adequate outdoor air for boiler and water
heater.
•Notice problems that could indicate improper appliance
operation:
– Decreasing hot water supply
– Boiler unable to heat house or runs constantly
– Sooting, especially on appliances
– Unfamiliar or burning odour
– Yellow or orange flame
•Be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:
– headaches, dizziness, weakness, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting,
confusion and disorientation.
•Recognise that CO poisoning may be the cause when family
members suffer from flu-like symptoms that don’t disappear but
improve when they leave home or extended periods of time.
•Install a BSI Kitemarked CO alarm for added safety.
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Part Two – Carbon Monoxide -
The Silent Killer
Where Does CO Come From?
Inside your home, appliances used for heating and cooking are the
most likely sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles running in attached
garages can also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
A by-product of combustion, carbon monoxide can be a potential
problem from a number of common sources – cars, boilers, water
heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, charcoal grills, gas ranges, space
heaters and portable generators.
When these appliances are in good working condition with proper
ventilation, lethal carbon monoxide gas is vented outdoors where it
quickly disperses. But even the slightest malfunction or misuse of any
of these sources can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide in your
home that can become deadly before you’d even know it’s there.
And you don’t have to have ancient appliances to have a problem.
Today’s more energy-efficient, airtight home designs can trap CO-
polluted air inside where it can quickly build to lethal levels.
What Can You do to Protect Your Family?
To be safe, know the possible sources of CO in your home. Keep fuel-
burning appliances and their chimneys and vents in good working
condition. Learn the early symptoms of exposure, and if you
suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, move outside to fresh air and get
emergency help. A blood test can confirm that CO caused the
problem.
Your first line of defence is an annual inspection and regular
maintenance of your appliances. Contact a licensed contractor or call
British Gas on 0800 111 999 for assistance.
But remember, problems can begin after an inspection is over, like a
crack in a boiler heat exchanger, or a leak in a water heater vent or a
bird’s nest blocking a flue. That’s why you need the 24-hour
protection provided by a CO alarm.
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Part Two – Carbon Monoxide -
The Silent Killer
900-0081 Benelux Manual 29/8/01 9:54 am Page 19
