Why You Need A Carbon Monoxide Alarm

If you’ve ever wondered if you need a carbon monoxide alarm the answer is 100% YES.

What is carbon monoxide and why is it dangerous?

Let's take it back to basics - what is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is also known as CO, an odourless, colourless gas. It is formed when carbon compounds burn and there is not enough oxygen.

Carbon monoxide is harmful to you when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. This is known as carbon monoxide poisoning and can overcome you in minutes without warning — causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate.

Where is the danger coming from?

What is crucial to know is what exactly in your home could be causing you danger.

All homes that have a fuel-burning appliance should have at least one carbon monoxide alarm. Examples of these appliances are:

• Open fireplaces
• Gas-powered boilers
• Heaters
• Ovens
• Stoves
• Water heaters
• Some fridges

Although your appliances should all have been tested and deemed safe, most CO hazards within the home occur from blockages of vents. An example of this is from animal nests blocking a chimney. Therefore, we always recommend you have a carbon monoxide alarm even if you think your appliances are safe.

“Better safe than sorry,” is the perfect adage here! For the sake of a few pounds.

Where should I install my carbon monoxide alarm?

It is important to have at least one carbon monoxide alarm on every floor. This is so everyone in the property can hear the alarm going off whilst sleeping. Contrary to popular belief, carbon monoxide alarms can be placed on the walls or the ceiling. Each is just as effective as the other. As long as you have at least one on every floor, the placement is of less importance!

Understanding your carbon monoxide alarm

Yes, your alarm can beep but that doesn’t always mean there is carbon monoxide in the air. The list below details what you should be listening out for:

• Four beeps and a pause: This is the alarm. If you hear this, you should seek fresh air immediately and call 999.
• One beep every minute: This means that the alarm has low batteries and needs to be replaced.
• Five beeps every minute: This means your alarm has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced with a new carbon monoxide alarm.

If, after reading this, you know you don’t have a carbon monoxide alarm or enough of them but the correct installation seems daunting, let HandyExperts know! You will receive professional installation of these life-saving devices and all the advice you need. Save yourself the hassle and worry!

HandyExperts tradespeople will provide you a guaranteed service level.

With HandyExperts, you can book your job quickly online or by calling us on 0330 912 2323. We’ll help get a qualified tradesperson out to you as soon as we can. You’ll even have our own dedicated team of account managers to assist you with the job and anything else you might need.