{"id":5314,"date":"2023-11-30T12:51:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T12:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.safelincs.co.uk\/blog\/?p=5314"},"modified":"2023-11-30T12:51:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T12:51:43","slug":"will-a-carbon-monoxide-alarm-detect-gas-leaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safelincs.co.uk\/blog\/2023\/11\/30\/will-a-carbon-monoxide-alarm-detect-gas-leaks\/","title":{"rendered":"Does a Carbon Monoxide Detector Detect Gas?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Will a Carbon Monoxide alarm<\/a> detect gas leaks? Carbon Monoxide detectors will only be activated by the presence of carbon monoxide gas (CO), which is the result of incomplete combustion. CO can be released by faulty fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves, boilers, and fire places. Carbon monoxide detectors will not detect gas leaks involving the natural gas (NG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which fuel household appliances, such as boilers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Faulty
A carbon monoxide alarm will not detect gas leaks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why has my CO alarm not gone off during a gas leak?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An odorant is added to LPG and NG gas supplied to homes, because the gases are highly flammable and explosive. The unpleasant, sulphur-like smell is designed to alert occupiers to any leaks. Many people worry that there is a problem with their CO detectors when, even though they can smell gas, their CO alarm has not gone off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in these scenarios, the CO alarm is not faulty<\/strong>. The detectors in these devices are only triggered by carbon monoxide, which is released by faulty fuel burning appliances. Carbon monoxide is colourless and has no smell, and therefore cannot be detected by humans, unlike a gas leak. Ensure your CO alarm is in good working order by pressing the \u2018test’ button regularly. You should also check that the alarm is still \u2018in date\u2019 (CO alarms usually need replacing between 7 and 10 years after installation).<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Carbon
A digital CO alarm will display current CO levels at all times<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How can I protect my family from carbon monoxide gas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carbon Monoxide has no colour, smell, or taste, but can kill within minutes of exposure. CO is a byproduct of incomplete combustion within faulty gas burning appliances, so there is no way to add an odorant to this deadly gas. The only way to detect Carbon Monoxide is with a CO detector. To protect your family from CO poisoning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n