Carbon Monoxide Alarm

[sarah1986]

Hi All,

I am after some advise really I have tried to search the web but cannot see my answer.

We found out our gas fire was leaking gas, it had been serviced only a few months before, so I am hoping it started leaking after, anyway it was condemmed and a new one has been installed today, it worries me the plumber who has fitted it may have missed the previous gas leak, so I am concious of where my carbon monoxide alarm is placed.

I have a gas fire sat within a fire surround, my carbon monoxide alarm is currently sat on top of the mantle piece around chest height, is it ok here or should it be moved somehwre different? I dont have any shelves in my room nor can fix things to the wall as it is rented, I have a small coffee table which is directly infront of the fire!!

Any advice would be helpful to put my mind at rest.

Thanks
Sarah

 

[gassafe]

A carbon monoxide alarm will not detect a gas leak for a start...

If the plumber was gas safe registered he should have done all the necessary checks to confirm its working correctly & Gas tightness test would have been completed at the gas meter to test for gas leaks.

As for the location of your carbon monoxide alarm, the instructions supplied are best to be followed if you have them?

 

[sarah1986]

Hi,

I know it wont detect gas leaks, I want it to detect any carbon monoxide. I do not have the instructions anymore they just stated to put it within 1m-3m of the appliance, but it didnt answer if I was ok to put it on my mantle piece above the fire.

Thanks

 

[Dotty]

Ideally it should be around head height and 1-3m away from the appliance.

But then needs must. Any protection is better than no protection.

 

[steadyon]

If your property is rented it is a legal requirement (since 1st October 2015) for the landlord to install a Carbon Monoxide detector if there are any gas appliances or other potential sources of Carbon Monoxide. I think your approach should be:

a. Try and get the landlord to install a new one, unless the existing one is his / hers and is in date. Most last 5 or 7 years (the sensors, not the batteries) and should be dated on installation.
b. If that doesn't happen, buy a new one so you get some instructions and mount it in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. If this means drilling the walls, point out in writing to your landlord that it needs to be done, and that if he / she won't fulfil their legal obligations they'd be ill advised to complain about a couple of small screws in the wall.
c. Or possibly look up the details of the existing one (again if it is still within date) on the internet and proceed as at b. above.

 

[Dotty]

If your property is rented it is a legal requirement (since 1st October 2015) for the landlord to install a Carbon Monoxide detector if there are any gas appliances or other potential sources of Carbon Monoxide. I think your approach should be:

a. Try and get the landlord to install a new one, unless the existing one is his / hers and is in date. Most last 5 or 7 years (the sensors, not the batteries) and should be dated on installation.
b. If that doesn't happen, buy a new one so you get some instructions and mount it in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. If this means drilling the walls, point out in writing to your landlord that it needs to be done, and that if he / she won't fulfil their legal obligations they'd be ill advised to complain about a couple of small screws in the wall.
c. Or possibly look up the details of the existing one (again if it is still within date) on the internet and proceed as at b. above.

Almost correct.

Solid fuel appliances. Anything else is advised only.

 

[steadyon]

Croppie is absolutely right. Not a requirement without solid fuel appliances, so need to approach landlord with care!

And I've just installed five of them thinking it was compulsory - still I suppose better safe than sorry.

 

[Atouchofgas]

Almost right again, op doesn't state where shes from

 

[thompsonbrown]

Hi All,

I am after some advise really I have tried to search the web but cannot see my answer.

We found out our gas fire was leaking gas, it had been serviced only a few months before, so I am hoping it started leaking after, anyway it was condemmed and a new one has been installed today, it worries me the plumber who has fitted it may have missed the previous gas leak, so I am concious of where my carbon monoxide alarm is placed.

I have a gas fire sat within a fire surround, my carbon monoxide alarm is currently sat on top of the mantle piece around chest height, is it ok here or should it be moved somehwre different? I dont have any shelves in my room nor can fix things to the wall as it is rented, I have a small coffee table which is directly infront of the fire!!

Any advice would be helpful to put my mind at rest.

Thanks
Sarah

A carbon monoxide alarm will not detect a gas leak, it only detects carbon monoxide present in the air. When your gas fitter installed your fire he should have carried out gas safety checks before and after the installation. If you are worried or can smell gas you need to call out an engineer asap.

 

[Atouchofgas]

Read post 3

 

[thompsonbrown]

Read post 3

should have read post 2 as well.