Carbon Monoxide

mrochester

mrochester

mrochester

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Hi all

Am I right in saying that carbon monoxide is caused as a result of gas not burning properly, which is caused by poor ventilation? There's only 1 gas appliance in my house, and that is the boiler, and it only comes on during the summer months when you run a hot tap (shower excluded as it's electric). Needless to say, it only comes on for a few seconds a day. My partner says he's been feeling a bit off when in the house - dizziness, lack of concentration, etc, and I can't see how the boiler being on for a few seconds a day would cause this. Can carbon monoxide come from gas that hasn't been burned, as in, just a standard gas leak? I would suspect a standard gas leak would smell, and I'd notice that. I seem to be completely unaffected.

Any info on this appreciated - I'm going to invest in a carbon monoxide detector anyway just because it seems like a good idea, but wanted some info now as it seems to me to be highly unlikely to be carbon monoxide.
 
As Burnsy says. Seek immediate advice and open windows etc.

CO is as said, a killer. Get it sorted for you and your partners sake quickly.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Do not continue to use the boiler until you are sure it's not CO. Seek professional advice. CO is a killer.
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Oh I'm well aware of that. I trust that if a carbon monoxide detector gives the all clear, there's nothing to be alarmed about?

And can someone confirm that carbon monoxide would only come from burning gas - ie, the boiler?
 
Head to B&Q and get one of the CO2 meters. They are fairly cheap and very accurate. Will at least tell you if something is up.

A combi boiler (by the sounds of it) will only burn when in use so this is *unlikely* to be the cause of his problems.

You would smell gas if it was leaking and no, carbon monoxide can't from the raw gas itself unless its being burned.
 
Gas itself is not poisonous, Carbon Monoxide is caused by poor combustion. If you have concerns about your boiler then DO NOT use it and get it serviced or contact your landord (if you have one) and get them to get it looked at. If you feel you have a Gas Escape then call 0800 111999 (this is a 24hr service) and you will be visited within 1hr to 2hrs (24hrs a day) and the engineer will make the boiler safe i.e. so it cant be used - this visit is free.
 
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Yes you're right, it's a combi boiler - and with the central heating off, an electric shower, and electric hob and oven, the combi boiler is rarely on at all. It takes me a few seconds to wash my hands under the hot tap, and most times I have washed up before the boiler has even kicked in. I have done this twice today. I really really don't think the boiler could be causing this problem.
 
It'll be a room sealed appliance (I've never come across an open flued combi boiler personally), so unless the case seals have broken, it wouldn't allow any burnt or partially burnt gas into the room anyway. Carbon monoxide is only produced during incomplete combustion of gas, so a gas leak wouldn't release ANY carbon monoxide and would smell along with being highly explosive. It's a common misconception that a CO detector will detect a gas leak, they're entirely separate.

I'd buy a CO detector anyway just because it's a good idea, but I think your friend should just go see a doctor and try drinking more water :) . It takes quite a prolonged period of CO exposure to start feeling the effects (which is why gas fires which are giving it out can be so deadly when you're sat with it on watching TV..).

/side note: It makes me chuckle how much people who don't know anything about gas appliances over react at the slightest hint of CO. It takes a long time to succumb to the effects of CO, it's not like you're just going to suddenly drop dead from a sniff of it. I suppose over-reaction is better than the opposite though, bit too late if there really was a problem.
 
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St0rmer66 said:
It'll be a room sealed appliance (I've never come across an open flued combi boiler personally), so unless the case seals have broken, it wouldn't allow any burnt or partially burnt gas into the room anyway. Carbon monoxide is only produced during incomplete combustion of gas, so a gas leak wouldn't release ANY carbon monoxide and would smell along with being highly explosive. It's a common misconception that a CO detector will detect a gas leak, they're entirely separate.

I'd buy a CO detector anyway just because it's a good idea, but I think your friend should just go see a doctor and try drinking more water :) . It takes quite a prolonged period of CO exposure to start feeling the effects (which is why gas fires which are giving it out can be so deadly when you're sat with it on watching TV..).

/side note: It makes me chuckle how much people who don't know anything about gas appliances over react at the slightest hint of CO. It takes a long time to succumb to the effects of CO, it's not like you're just going to suddenly drop dead from a sniff of it. I suppose over-reaction is better than the opposite though, bit too late if there really was a problem.
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I'll get a CO detector tomorrow. I've checked the boiler externally, and the walls and ceiling around it, for any black marks (are the black marks caused by soot that isn't ventilating outside?) and there's nothing to be seem. The cupboard is well ventilated apart from shelves of toiletries and a shelf of towles and bedding. I know it probably doesn't make any difference, but the boiler is only about 3 and a half years old.
 
Make sure you get a CO alarm and not just those cheap paper things that change colour (which NOBODY ever ends up checking for more than about a week).

Black marks would be caused if it was burning badly AND allowing the burnt gases into the room, but if it was just the latter and the boiler was otherwise running ok, you could probably run it for years like that and not even notice to be honest (not that I'm saying it's a good idea of course). If it was burning wrongly and the case seals were intact, you probably wouldn't notice either (apart from reduced efficiency), all of the gases would still go outside... hence why open flued appliances were phased out years ago.

If it's only 3.5 years old then chances are it won't need any ventilation anyway (even if it did, it would only be for cooling purposes, not air for combustion). All of the air for combustion on a room sealed appliance is taken from outside, so the cupboard could be almost completely air-tight and it wouldn't matter.
 
mrochester said:
And can someone confirm that carbon monoxide would only come from burning gas - ie, the boiler?
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Carbon Monoxide is only produced where there is reduced availability of oxygen.

This happens in the likes of boilers and car engines.

I am no expert but it will not come from any other appliance in the home other than a faulty boiler or a gas fire.
 
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