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Invisible    Tasteless   Odourless    Colourless
You cannot rely on you senses to detect carbon monoxide

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Carbon Monoxide is the silent killer.  Every year people become seriously ill or die because of it. Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that has no colour, taste or smell, therefore you can't rely on your senses to detect it.  It can be produced by any appliances burning gas, wood, oil or coal – if they are not appropriately installed, maintained by regular servicing, the appliances get damaged or the airflow (ventilation) is reduced. 

Anyone can be affected by Carbon Monoxide poisoning.  It is important that people living in rented accommodation demand that their landlord services the appliances in the property annually, it is a legal requirement.  Wrekin Housing Trust are committed to ensuring the safety of tenants in their homes.  It is also very important that tenants allow engineers access to their home as refusing access means that they could be putting themselves and their neighbours at risk.

There are a number of steps you can take to keep your household safe.

Landlords are duty bound to check gas appliances annually, and oil appliances twice a year, please let our engineers into your property when we make appointments with you.

If you have a solid fuel appliances ensure the chimneys are swept once a year and that the boiler is serviced annually, the Wrekin Housing Trust will do this.  If you have a solid fuel fire that is not connected to a heating system, it is your responsibility to ensure that the chimney is swept regularly.

Ensure that ventilation to the property is not blocked and flues are clear. 

Know the signs, there may be some visible signs on your appliances that may suggest the presence of carbon monoxide.  You can tell if a gas appliance is working correctly by looking at the flame, it should look blue, if the flame is yellow or orange in colour and burning unevenly suggests that there is a problem.  Other tell tale signs are soot deposits or discoloration around the appliance and the pilot light regularly goes out'.

Carbon monoxide symptoms are often mistaken for flu as the early symptoms are headaches, nausea, fatigue and confusion.  Consider installing an audible alarm, however, this is not a substitute for getting gas appliances serviced and chimneys swept annually.  For Wrekin Housing Trust tenants and Leaseholders, Travis Perkins, our partners, offer Carbon Monoxide Detectors at half the recommended retail price, customers just need to take rent statement into the local Travis Perkins branch. 

In an emergency if your alarm goes off or you spot any of the other signs of Carbon Monoxide open doors or windows for ventilation.  In an emergency call the Gas Emergency Helpline 0800111999; Solid Fuel (HETAS) 08456345626; Oil (OFTEC) 08456585080.   Also call our repairs line on 01952 217217 to report it to the Trust.

For further advice regarding carbon monoxide please contact www.co-bealarmed.co.uk or www.co-awareness.org.