How can I tell if my water heater or stove is not burning properly?
The flame in the gas appliance will be orange instead of blue. The flame will also be higher than normal. There may be condensation on the windows because the water vapour in the room cannot escape via the vents.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Mild carbon monoxide poisoning can cause a headache, nausea, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and fatigue. Severe carbon monoxide poisoning is fatal.
I think that carbon monoxide is being released in my house. What should I do?
Open all the windows and doors, turn off the gas appliance and call Lieven de Key immediately.
What if the carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
Immediately open all the windows and doors, turn off the gas appliance, go outside with all family members and pets, and call 112.
What can I do to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Make sure that your home is well ventilated. In the past, houses had better natural ventilation due to cracks and holes. These days we need to use windows, grilles or a central ventilation system. So make sure that these are open or left on.
- Have your heater and water heater inspected annually by a qualified engineer.
- Buy a carbon monoxide detector from a do-it-yourself store and install it in your home.
- Check that the carbon monoxide detector is working properly (and the battery) by pressing the test button. Check the manual for your detector to find out exactly the right way to do this.
What is Lieven de Key doing to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Lieven de Key checks the central heating boiler once every two years, and the water heater once annually.
- Carbon monoxide is mainly emitted by appliances that use an open flame such as water heaters and stoves. If an engineer decides that the device needs to be replaced, a high-efficiency boiler will always be installed in its place.