Is your carbon monoxide detector going off? Always take the alarm seriously. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. This means you cannot check for yourself whether it is safe by looking around or sniffing the air. Warn others in the area, go outside, and call 112. Don’t try to figure out which appliance is causing the problem first. Only once it’s clear that the situation is safe should you have the source of the carbon monoxide investigated.
In the event of a real CO alarm, it’s important to act quickly:
Warn everyone in the home.
Go outside immediately.
Call 112 from outside.
Follow the instructions of the emergency services.
Are you experiencing a headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, or other symptoms? Report this immediately when you call 112. These symptoms may be signs of carbon monoxide exposure.
Do not go back inside just because you can’t smell anything. It is precisely the fact that carbon monoxide cannot be detected by your senses that makes it dangerous.
A CO detector measures carbon monoxide in the air. When the measured concentration and duration of exposure reach the preset alarm thresholds, the detector sounds.
Carbon monoxide can be produced by incomplete combustion. Possible sources include, for example:
a central heating boiler;
a water heater;
a gas fireplace or gas heater;
a defective or poorly connected flue;
other appliances that burn fuel.
The national government recommends having gas-burning appliances inspected at least once every two years by a CO-certified company. Work on, for example, a central heating boiler, water heater, or gas stove may only be performed by a certified company.
A detector may have a malfunction, but never immediately assume it’s a false alarm when you hear an alarm signal.
This is important because you cannot detect carbon monoxide with your own senses. The fact that you don’t see smoke or smell anything unusual says nothing about the amount of CO in your home.
Does the detector only emit a short beep occasionally? Then there may be another issue, such as a dead battery, a malfunction, or the end of its service life. Check the manual for your specific model. The sound for a malfunction may differ from the actual CO alarm, depending on the manufacturer.
Sometimes a carbon monoxide alarm goes off and then stops on its own. Don’t take this as proof that the problem is resolved.
The amount of carbon monoxide in a room can change. For example, ventilation, weather conditions, or turning off a combustion appliance can affect the concentration.
If a CO alarm has actually gone off, follow the safety steps and have the possible cause checked before resuming normal use of a suspected appliance.
If the carbon monoxide detector near the boiler goes off, it’s tempting to take a quick look yourself to see what’s wrong. Do not do this during an alarm situation.
First, go outside and call 112. Then have any issues with the boiler or flue gas exhaust inspected by a CO-certified installer. The Dutch government emphasizes that the installation, maintenance, and repair of gas-fired appliances must be carried out by certified companies.
The correct location depends on the room and the combustion appliances present. Therefore, always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
For example, a detector near a central heating boiler may need to be installed at a different height and in a different position than a detector in a bedroom. Incorrect placement can prevent a detector from functioning optimally.
Are you ready for a new detector? Then check out our carbon monoxide detectors. These are specifically designed to detect dangerous concentrations of CO.
A smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector have different functions.
A smoke detector reacts to smoke produced by a fire. A CO detector measures carbon monoxide. Therefore, a standard smoke detector will not automatically alert you when carbon monoxide is released without smoke.
For fire detection, check out our fire alarms and smoke detectors. There are also combination detectors that can detect both smoke and carbon monoxide.
A CO detector alerts you, but it does not prevent carbon monoxide from forming.
Therefore, have your furnace and other gas-burning appliances serviced regularly and ensure that flue gas vents are in good working order. The Dutch government recommends having them inspected at least once every two years by a CO-certified company.
In addition, regularly check whether your CO detectors are still within their specified service life and test them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Not sure which type of detector you need? Stop by our showroom in Gorinchem. We can show you the different types of detectors available and what to look for when choosing and installing them.
Warn everyone present, leave the house, and call 112 from outside. Do not try to find the cause first, and do not go back inside just because you can’t smell anything.
Not necessarily. The CO concentration may have temporarily dropped, while the source is still present. Therefore, always take a genuine CO alarm seriously.
A detector can malfunction or emit a fault signal. However, you must treat a genuine alarm signal as if carbon monoxide is present until it is clear that the situation is safe.
A smoke detector detects smoke in the event of a fire. A carbon monoxide detector detects the toxic gas carbon monoxide. You therefore need appropriate detection for both hazards.
The Dutch government recommends having a gas-fired appliance inspected at least once every two years by a CO-free certified company.
