Keeping you safe in your home
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Carbon Monoxide - Don't let a Killer into your Home
Every year people needlessly die or become seriously ill due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
By ensuring your annual gas service or solid fuel service is completed by South Tyneside Homes you could prevent the deaths of you and your loved ones.
Carbon monoxide is an extremely poisonous gas that is produced when gas, solid fuel and wood burning appliances are not correctly installed and maintained.
The gas is produced whenever the fuels are burned with an insufficient air supply, which can be caused by faulty , poorly maintained appliances or a lack of ventilation
Ventilation in the form of wall grilles, door grilles and floor grilles are installed to provide an adequate amount of fresh air supply to the appliance
Never cover, restrict, block or remove any air grilles as this will affect the performance of your appliance and it could lead to Carbon Monoxide being produced
Although carbon monoxide is colourless and odorless, you cannot see it, smell it or taste it warning signs that indicate incomplete combustion is occurring that could result in the production of CO, include:
- Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (apart from living flame fuel effect fires which display this colour flame)
- Soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances
If you think your appliance is producing carbon monoxide you must:
- Switch off the appliance and do not reuse until remedial action has been taken Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (if you know where it is).
- If gas continues to escape call National Grid on the Gas Emergency Freephone Number 0800 111 999
Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room - do not sleep in it
Where your appliance is installed in a cupboard or compartment never use the space for storage as this can restrict the air grilles and will result in the area being a fire hazard
