carbon monoxide scare

takersbabe · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-08, 18:52

Had a bit (well a huge lot) of a scare today mart got up this morning put heating on as we normally do in a morning and about an hour later the carbon monoxide alarm went off first time ever since marts dad bought it for us a while ago now.
so mart immediately turned heating off and opened windows and came and told me as i was upstairs with dylly.
we rang his dad who came and had a look i turned the gas off at the mains and waited.
his dad got hold of corgi registered guy he knows who has done things on out house before he put our new boiler in last year.
he very kindly came out on a saturday to take a look for us and he was shocked at what he saw when he took the fire off the wall.
the flue was totally blocked and what looked like some kind on acorns or something had completely blocked it up he said it wasnt just carbon and dirt it actually did look like it was some kind of nut or something that had gradually been burnt.he is coming back monday to sort it all out properly for us but we might have to have our chimney swept if something is blocking it.
its really shocked me as he said if it wasnt for the carbon monoxide alarm and the fact we have a baby gate on our living room door so we cant shut it that we would of been dead,its scared the **** out of me cause for last two days ive felt disorientated and dizzy and sicky so now we know why.
thankfully the kids have been fine but its upset me and worried me because i should of remembered from living in a council house for years that fires should be serviced annually but it never crossed my mind plus ive only been here two years in april so didnt really know how long its been but its been over 5 years from what we have worked out as mart never really used the fire or heating when he was here on his own.
so please please people take this as a huge warning PLEASE PLEASE ALL GET YOUR FIRES AND HEATING CHECKED and please get a carbon monoxide alarm because without that we wouldnt be here.
and i'm not being overly dramatic its scared me to death i'm deadly serious people please be careful.

Mercury · #2 (**permalink**) 12-01-08, 19:55

Sounds as if you have had a lucky escape, thankfully.
We got a carbon monoxide alarm just before Alice was born and touch wood, it's never gone off. We had a new boiler put in just before Christmas and I asked the bloke that fitted it if he could check the gas fire in the living room for us, not that we use it, but I thought I would be cheeky whilst he was here. Again, that was fine. Its money well spent though, as you can never replace your loved ones.
We also got a fire safety check done from the local fire brigade, and they fitted us with fire alarms, free of charge! So that might be worth considering if you havent smoke alarms in already.

takersbabe · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-08, 20:17

we have smoke alarms thankfully it has scared the hell out of me how close we were it really gives you a wake up call on a few things.
its something you dont really think about.

WillowTheWhisp · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-08, 21:24

Sounds like you had a lucky escape. It must have been quite unnerving. Glad to hear you are all OK.

grannyclaret · #5 (**permalink**) 13-01-08, 00:53

if you have a yearly contract with the gas board you get a free one and if it ever goes wrong they replace it,,,I am glad your all safe T. B

Kiki · #6 (**permalink**) 13-01-08, 11:04

We have ours checked regularly, but i shall get an alarm, im also glad you are all ok!

James1234 · #7 (**permalink**) 13-01-08, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by takersbabe

Had a bit (well a huge lot) of a scare today mart got up this morning put heating on as we normally do in a morning and about an hour later the carbon monoxide alarm went off first time ever since marts dad bought it for us a while ago now.
so mart immediately turned heating off and opened windows and came and told me as i was upstairs with dylly.
we rang his dad who came and had a look i turned the gas off at the mains and waited.
his dad got hold of corgi registered guy he knows who has done things on out house before he put our new boiler in last year.
he very kindly came out on a saturday to take a look for us and he was shocked at what he saw when he took the fire off the wall.
the flue was totally blocked and what looked like some kind on acorns or something had completely blocked it up he said it wasnt just carbon and dirt it actually did look like it was some kind of nut or something that had gradually been burnt.he is coming back monday to sort it all out properly for us but we might have to have our chimney swept if something is blocking it.
its really shocked me as he said if it wasnt for the carbon monoxide alarm and the fact we have a baby gate on our living room door so we cant shut it that we would of been dead,its scared the **** out of me cause for last two days ive felt disorientated and dizzy and sicky so now we know why.
thankfully the kids have been fine but its upset me and worried me because i should of remembered from living in a council house for years that fires should be serviced annually but it never crossed my mind plus ive only been here two years in april so didnt really know how long its been but its been over 5 years from what we have worked out as mart never really used the fire or heating when he was here on his own.
so please please people take this as a huge warning PLEASE PLEASE ALL GET YOUR FIRES AND HEATING CHECKED and please get a carbon monoxide alarm because without that we wouldnt be here.
and i'm not being overly dramatic its scared me to death i'm deadly serious people please be careful.

I'm glad all was sorted and you and your family are ok, we had our gas boiler replaced late last year it was 20+ years old and carbon soot was found and the vent was partially obstructed from the inside.
It just goes to show what can happen is you don't get your appliances regularly serviced, we also have carbon monoxide alarms fitted too.
You can get gas appliances (boilers and central heating esp) done by British Gas for free, call 'em they come out service it/then then once every year from there onwards I think it is.
I live in a private rented house so the landlord has everything serviced yearly.

Neal · #8 (**permalink**) 13-01-08, 13:27

Glad your all safe and well and we have just ordered a detector as we use the stickers which aren't that good to be honest.

takersbabe · #9 (**permalink**) 13-01-08, 13:46

i'm glad you are all sorted with yours its made me want to warn everyone it has been so scary

Sweetpea · #10 (**permalink**) 13-01-08, 14:30

Thank heavens you are all alright. When I first met my husband he hardly spent any time in the house we now both live in, so very little maintenance was done. I was sitting at the computer desk one afternoon, when suddenly I felt violently sick. I knew what it was immediately. However, it happened during the day, what if had been nighttime and we were asleep? Very scary. We now have the 'new' boiler checked every year and we have a Carbon Monoxide alarm.

takersbabe · #11 (**permalink**) 13-01-08, 15:13

its so scary to think it can kill you and you dont have any warning thank god for the alarms

jaysay · #12 (**permalink**) 14-01-08, 10:17

[quote=takersbabe;115743]its so scary to think it can kill you and you dont have any warning thank god for the alarms[/quote
Carbon monoxide has been dubed the silent killer, remember the kids that were killed in Greece last year. Living in a Hyndburn Homes property they have to service you heating every year and cheak for carbon monoxide, but after hearing about your experience takersbabe I will be definitely be getting an alarm as well just to be on the safe side, you just can't be too careful

Sweetpea · #13 (**permalink**) 14-01-08, 10:29

The reason it is a silent killer is that the Carbon Monoxide molecule looks very much like the Oxygen molecule, and fools the body into thinking it's OK. That's why you can't smell or taste it. It then, slowly replaces all the oxygen in the body.

takersbabe · #14 (**permalink**) 14-01-08, 12:33

[quote=jaysay;115750]

Quote:

Originally Posted by takersbabe

its so scary to think it can kill you and you dont have any warning thank god for the alarms[/quote
Carbon monoxide has been dubed the silent killer, remember the kids that were killed in Greece last year. Living in a Hyndburn Homes property they have to service you heating every year and cheak for carbon monoxide, but after hearing about your experience takersbabe I will be definitely be getting an alarm as well just to be on the safe side, you just can't be too careful

this was my reason for posting this just to make everyone aware how dangerous it is and if i help one person its been worthwhile it such a scary thing