Every year in the UK, more than 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, and around 40 people die. Small children and the elderly are most at risk, and CORGI HomePlan is campaigning for every home to get a carbon monoxide detector, so that they can keep their family safe.
In the last three years, an estimated one in six homes inspected by the Gas Safe Register was found to have an unsafe gas appliance and one in eleven has an unsafe boiler.
There are several warning signs in your home that could mean you have a carbon monoxide issue. Here are a few things to look out for:
- The flame on your cooker should be crisp and blue. Yellow or orange flames mean you need to get your cooker checked
- Dark staining around or on appliances
- Sooty marks on the walls around boilers, stoves or the cover of gas fires
- Pilot lights that frequently go out
- Increased condensation inside windows
CORGI HomePlan are campaigning for every home to have their own CO detector and they’ve created a microsite to help families be aware of the dangers of gas appliances in their own home: http://corgi-homeplan-how-safe-is-your-home.org/
It's packed with easy to follow advice and warning signs to look out for, this site is an easy reference resource for homeowners unsure about how to protect themselves and their families and what to do when things go wrong at home.
It's not just homeowners though. New laws require private landlords to install working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in high risk rooms such as those with solid fuel fires or gas boilers, but inevitably not all will comply. For around £30 you can have the peace of mind that you are protected. If your child is off to university and staying in a rented room then a CO2 monitor is a great investment.
With the tragic news headlines recently, it's worth also remembering that some holiday properties aren't properly protected and I for one will certainly be taking a monitor to our rented villa this summer.
CORGI HomePlan are offering readers the chance to win a CO-9X FireAngel Carbon Monoxide Detector by completing the rafflecopter below. The monitor has an internal power pack which will last for 7 years meaning you don't need to worry about changing the battery. It can be used as a portable monitor making it perfect for taking on holiday, or can be wall mounted. These are excellent detectors and the ones we use at home. We have one in our utility room where the boiler is housed, one in the kitchen where we have gas hobs and one in the living room as we have an open fire.
They are simple to use and have a one-button test feature. If you'd like the chance to win your own CO alarm worth around £30, please complete the rafflecopter below.
The giveaway ends midnight 4th July 2015. One winner will be picked at random from all eligible entries. UK entrants only. The prize will be fulfilled and dispatched by CORGI HomePlan who are kindly supplying the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I would use it at home - have been meaning to get one for a while as my auntie recently had a CM scare, so this would be brill!
ReplyDeleteI will use it on our landing. We have one down stairs already.
ReplyDeletein the hall, although your suggestion of taking one on holiday is a really good idea and I must remember to do so.
ReplyDeletein my daughter's flat we have just finished a garage coversion for her to live in and now have to get it kitted out
ReplyDeleteat home in my kitchen! :)
ReplyDeleteI would take this away on holiday with us. I'm never sure about where we're staying, so it would feel like extra back-up insurance
ReplyDeleteI would use it in our holiday home.
ReplyDeleteI would use it in my home in the kitchen to protect my family myself and my cat :-)
ReplyDeleteIn my kitchen; it's open-plan so would cover more than one room. Brilliant prize!
ReplyDeleteI will use it in the kitchen i think these are a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI know a girl my age who died from carbon monoxide poisoning and I think its great to raise awareness. I'd probably put it in the hallway x
ReplyDeleteI my hallway where the boiler is situated xxx
ReplyDeletein the kitchen at home x
ReplyDeleteat home in the hall
ReplyDeleteIn the hallway outside my boiler room
ReplyDeleteOutside my boiler room x
ReplyDeleteI would use it upstairs in the hall between the bedroom
ReplyDeleteI'd give it to my Dad to put in his house
ReplyDeleteI'll set it up in my kitchen at home
ReplyDeleteAt home, my current one is ready to be replaced this year
ReplyDeleteJust had a new boiler fitted in the kitchen so would use it somewhere near to that.
ReplyDeleteIn my kitchen - leanne w
ReplyDeletein the hallway of our house
ReplyDeleteAt home in the kitchen
ReplyDeleteat home in the kitchen
ReplyDeleteIn the utility room at home where the boiler is situated.
ReplyDeleteI've been planning to get one of these for when I go away on holiday. I think it's essential, particularly after all the recent media coverage.
ReplyDelete~ Anthony G
at home in the kitchen
ReplyDeleteAt home in my kitchen.
ReplyDeletein my bedroom x
ReplyDeleteI'd give it to my son for his flat at uni.
ReplyDeleteI'd give it to my parents as I don't use Gas but they do :)
ReplyDeleteat home in the Lounge.
ReplyDeleteI would like it for home as we do not have one
ReplyDeleteIn my bedroom x
ReplyDeleteI would use it in the kitchen where the boiler is :)
ReplyDeleteon holiday in the kitchen
ReplyDeletein my living room i think
ReplyDeleteI'm not entering as I have a few doted around the house now but these are SO very important. My boiler was condemned on Monday as it was leaking gas, thankfully it was going outside out of the fume but it is very scary
ReplyDeleteI'd put it in the hall. I've had the same one there since they came out. I haven't read any warning that they need to be replaced but it's many years old and I think a new one may be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteOn the landing/hall in our house
ReplyDeleteAt home with two young boys its always a worry x
ReplyDeleteI'd use it in the back bedroom, as that is where the boiler is.
ReplyDeleteI would be taking it with me on our holiday in a caravan that way I know our carbon monoxide is in working order and we can all sleep safely at night.
ReplyDeleteAt home - can't be too careful
ReplyDeletewe would put this in the lounge at home x
ReplyDeleteI would put this in our kitchen, we've just moved house and need one near our gas boiler and oven!
ReplyDeleteI'd use this at home to make sure me and my family were safe
ReplyDeleteI'd use it at home
ReplyDeleteon holiday
ReplyDeleteIn Our Kitchen@Home :)
ReplyDeleteIt would be for my son's first home because he hasn't got an alarm yet
ReplyDeleteI'd use it at home in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteWe have an old gas fire in the living room - so it would be used in there.
ReplyDeleteI would use it at home :) x
ReplyDeleteDefinitely in my home, it's a necessity x
ReplyDeleteperfect for the caravan :)
ReplyDeleteI'd use it at home in our bedroom as that's where our boiler is housed.
ReplyDeleteI would use it at home and whilst on holiday camping
ReplyDeleteI would use in the kitchen near the boiler.
ReplyDeleteI'd install it at my parents home, they are elderly and it would give me peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteat home
ReplyDeleteAt home in the hallway
ReplyDeleteAt home, keep meaning to get one always a worry
ReplyDeleteI would put it in the kitchen
ReplyDeleteJust the thing to take on a pod holiday with the small gas stoves.
ReplyDeleteAt home its a great device potentially life saving
ReplyDeleteIn a caravan when we go on holiday to North Devon.
ReplyDeleteI would use it at home because my current alarm has an expiry date of October 2015
ReplyDeleteAt home in the hallway
ReplyDeleteJade H
I would put it in the hallway, I have one in the kitchen already
ReplyDeleteI would put it upstairs as I have one downstairs
ReplyDeleteWe will take it on holiday with us.
ReplyDeleteI'd use it at home in my lounge as during the winter I quite often fall asleep in front of the gas fire.
ReplyDeletein kitchen at home
ReplyDeleteAt home - I need an alarm but constantly fail to buy one!!
ReplyDeleteIn our living room
ReplyDeleteIn our kitchen. x
ReplyDeleteAs suggested as it is portable anywhere that my family stay and sleep this will be coming with me :0)
ReplyDeleteWill take it on holiday
ReplyDeleteI would use it at home
ReplyDeleteI would use this in our home but then also take it away with us if we go away.
ReplyDeleteat home and at holiday as well
ReplyDeleteI would use it in the home. Trevor Linvell
ReplyDeleteI'd use this at home....above the boiler in the landing xo
ReplyDeleteAt home next to our gas fire
ReplyDeleteI'd use it at home
ReplyDeletejust had a boiler check and they said I need one, so for the home.
ReplyDeleteAs I already have one of these at home I would use this as a spare to take on holiday.
ReplyDeleteMy son's girlfriend has just had gas fitted in her flat so I would give it to her as we do not have gas
ReplyDeleteAt home in the lounge as we still have a back boiler
ReplyDeleteAt home in the kitchen near the gasburners
ReplyDeleteAt home. In the kitchen
ReplyDeleteAt home near our boiler upstairs!
ReplyDeletewould use at the camping pod we holiday at, as has a gas fire inside
ReplyDeletewould use it at home & away!! Most likely in the hallway @home
ReplyDeleteat home
ReplyDelete