CARBON MONOXIDE

What you need to know.

Carbon Monoxide and Combustion.

Carbon monoxide is formed when a fossil fuel is burnt without sufficient oxygen being present to aid complete combustion. The lack of oxygen has a dramatic effect on the chemical reaction which takes place during the combustion process.

To achieve complete combustion when burning natural gas (CH4,) we need two volumes of oxygen (O2) to one volume of gas. In other words one volume of natural gas requires two volumes of oxygen for complete combustion to take place. The key word here is oxygen and not air. There is only 21% oxygen in air, so we will need ten volumes of air, which will give us the two volumes of oxygen required to burn one volume of gas.

When we burn natural gas and have the correct oxygen present, we produce one volume of carbon dioxide (co2) and two volumes of water vapour (2H20).

CH4 + 2O2 = CO2 + 2H20

If however there is a lack of oxygen the reaction which takes place is incomplete and as a result the carbon dioxide is transformed into carbon monoxide.

CH4 + 1.75O2 = CO + 2H2O

Remember carbon monoxide is a highly toxic gas which cannot be seen smelt or tasted. It only needs a concentration of 0.4% CO in the air to to cause loss of consciousness in minutes and then death.

DO NOT BLOCK UP AIR VENTS THEY ARE THERE FOR THIS REASON.

What are the physical symptoms of CO poisoning?

CO poisoning occurs when you breathe in CO and it replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream, causing body tissue and cells to die. Even small amounts of the gas can cause poisoning, and long term exposure can result in paralysis and even brain damage.

CO poisoning symptoms are similar to those of flu, food poisoning, viral infections, fatigue, and a hangover which makes it easy to mistake this very dangerous poisoning for something else.

The six main symptoms to look out for are:

Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Breathlessness>
Collapse
Loss of consciousness

Anybody who has overdone it on a night out will be familiar with some or all of those symptoms, but if you experience them without drinking it’s time to be concerned. Being aware of these symptoms could save your life.

There are also other signs that could indicate CO poisoning, such as:

Symptoms occur when you are at home but seem to disappear when you leave.
Others in your household (including pets) are experiencing similar symptoms at a similar time.

It’s important to know the signs of a carbon monoxide leak in your home, because knowing the signs can ensure you aren’t exposed to dangerous levels of CO for an extended period of time.

What are the signs of a carbon monoxide leak?

Any of the following could be a sign of CO in your home:

Floppy yellow or orange flame on your gas hob, rather than crisp blue
Dark, sooty staining on or around gas appliances
Pilot lights that frequently blow out
Increased condensation inside windows

If you detect any of these signs, please contact your Gas Safe registered engineer immediately to come and inspect your gas appliances and flues.

To find engineers who are qualified to investigate the presence of CO, go to the Check The Register page on this site, and follow these steps:

Enter your postcode
Under the ‘Select appliance type’ tab choose ‘Fumes Investigation’
Click ‘Find’ to see the updated results.

Remember that not getting your gas appliances regularly checked, or using an engineer that isn’t Gas Safe registered, can put you and your family at risk.

What to do if you suspect CO poisoning

Don’t delay - get fresh air immediately.
Open doors and windows, turn off gas appliances and leave the house.
See your doctor immediately or go to hospital. They can do a blood or breath test to check and can advise if you need treatment for CO poisoning.
If you think there is an immediate danger, call the Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999

Get your appliance checked