CO2 Dangers and How to Avoid Them
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
CO2, or carbon dioxide, is a silent killer and as most people are more interested in carbon monoxide, it can often go undetected until it’s to late. The air we breathe has around 21% CO2 in it naturally and this suits us fine, however as the percentage rises and we inhale it, this noxious gas takes the place of oxygen in the blood stream and quickly poisons the body. High levels of CO2 can cause organ failure, brain damage and even death in some cases.
CO2 Dangers in the Home
Carbon dioxide is an odourless, colourless gas and is typically produced by gas boilers in the home. In a properly functioning system, the CO2 gas is released into the atmosphere outside the home through the boiler’s flue and there isn’t a problem. Should the flue become blocked or damaged though, the CO2 emissions can seep into the rooms around the boiler and cause poisoning. Even worse is when the CO2 is converted into carbon monoxide because of the lack of ventilation and this gas seeps into the house. CO2 poisoning can occur within minutes in extreme cases and once the victim falls unconscious then it is unlikely they will survive unless found by someone else.
Avoiding the Dangers of CO2
There are a number of ways to avoid a CO2 poisoning tragedy and most are easy to do and relatively inexpensive. So for example:
• You should arrange to have an annual boiler service performed by a Corgi registered gas engineer. These services check your boiler for excessive CO2 production and also check that the flue is fully operational and clear of any blockages or leakages. Should a problem be found then it can easily be fixed at the time of the service.
• Your home should have adequate ventilation which means that built-in vents shouldn’t be blocked in any way – from the inside or the outside. During the warmer months you can have windows and doors open to increase the ventilation if you think that there may be a CO2 problem.
• You can also buy a CO2 alarm which will alert you to the presence of high CO2 levels before they can do any damage. These alarms are inexpensive at around £20 and can be placed at various places around the home if you want, although one should be placed close to the boiler and flue for obvious reasons.
New boilers and flue systems very rarely cause problems however older boilers can and it is worth spending a few extra pounds each year to safeguard the people in your home. CO2 poisoning is quick and the gas is undetectable by the senses so paying out for an alarm to do the detecting is surely a small price to pay in anyone’s book – I know it certainly is in mine.
Guest Article by Clare Lynock


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My name is Alan Potts and I'm the Editor of the Gasboiler-BUYability web site and Managing Director of BUYability Limited. You can connect with me or keep up to date with new posts on this blog via the following social media sites: 








