Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and potentially deadly, and Edinburgh’s older flats and shared chimneys can carry a particular risk. Here is how to keep your household safe.
Carbon monoxide is often called the silent killer, and for good reason. You cannot see it, smell it or taste it, yet it can build up quickly in a home and cause serious harm before anyone realises something is wrong. For households across Edinburgh, understanding the risks and taking a few simple precautions can genuinely save lives.
The good news is that carbon monoxide poisoning is almost entirely preventable. With a working alarm, regular servicing and an awareness of the warning signs, you can enjoy a warm home through the winter with complete peace of mind.
What carbon monoxide is and why it forms
Carbon monoxide is a gas produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn completely. In a healthy, well maintained appliance, fuel burns cleanly and waste gases are safely carried outside through a flue or chimney.
Problems arise when an appliance is faulty, poorly installed or badly ventilated, or when a flue or chimney is blocked. In those situations carbon monoxide can escape into the room rather than venting safely outdoors, and that is when it becomes dangerous.
Why Edinburgh homes can be at greater risk
Many of Edinburgh’s most loved properties are traditional tenements and period homes, and these can carry particular risks. Shared chimney stacks, old flues and original fireplaces are common, and a flue serving your neighbour’s appliance may pass close to your own rooms.
Older properties are also more likely to have ageing appliances and chimneys that have not been swept or checked in years. Add tightly sealed windows fitted to keep out the cold, and you have a combination that makes good ventilation and regular servicing more important than ever.
Fit and test a carbon monoxide alarm
Every home with a fuel burning appliance should have at least one audible carbon monoxide alarm. Look for one that meets the relevant British Standard, fit it in line with the manufacturer’s instructions, and place one in any room containing a boiler, fire or stove.
An alarm is only useful if it works, so test it regularly using the test button and replace the batteries or the whole unit as advised by the manufacturer. Think of it in the same way as a smoke alarm, a small device that quietly protects your household every day.
Know the warning signs
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be mistaken for flu or simple tiredness, which is part of what makes it so dangerous. Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, tiredness and confusion, and they often ease when you leave the property and return when you go back inside.
It is also worth watching your appliances. Lazy yellow or orange flames instead of a crisp blue flame, sooty stains or black marks around a boiler or fire, and a pilot light that frequently goes out can all point to a problem that needs professional attention.
What to do if you suspect a leak
If your alarm sounds or you suspect carbon monoxide, stop using the appliance straight away, open windows and doors to let fresh air in, and leave the property. If anyone is feeling unwell, seek medical help and mention that you suspect carbon monoxide exposure.
For a gas emergency you should call the national gas emergency line, and once the immediate danger has passed, arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect your appliances before they are used again. Never try to fix or second guess a gas appliance yourself.
Prevention is simple with the right help
The most reliable protection is a yearly service of your gas appliances by a Gas Safe registered engineer, combined with a working alarm and regular chimney sweeping where you have an open fire or stove. Together these steps remove almost all of the risk.
If you would like your boiler, fire or heating system checked, or you want advice on carbon monoxide alarms for your Edinburgh home, the Letsure team is here to help. Book online or give us a call and we will make sure your home is safe and warm.