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Carbon monoxide detectors

FireFire Posts: 19,096
in The potting shed
A quiet word about de-rusting your tools inside the house. My two carbon monoxide detectors went off in the early hours. I called the gas helpline and they sent a bloke. He concluded the detectors had gone off because in the kitchen I had a vat of vinegar to clean tools, and vinegar can set off the detectors.

As it happens one of the detectors had expired - they have a ten year life and then you have to get a new one. So, worth checking the dates on yours too.

The tools came out beautifully, by the way, but in future I will leave them outside in a covered bucket for the duration of the soak

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It is really important to have a carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in all rooms containing fuel-burning appliances, ensuring that the alarm is able to be heard throughout your home; these appliances includes gas stoves, gas boilers, wood stoves and open fire places in use. Carbon monoxide detectors are different from smoke alarms.  You cannot see, taste or smell CO,  so detectors are the only way to tell if you have a problem. 
                                                                                                                                                         



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Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Good reminder, thanks! Ours aren't out of date yet.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    That's a handy reminder @Fire, thank you.  I've just checked mine, it was installed in October 2013 so time to be replaced!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Thank you @Fire. I would never have guessed that vinegar could do that! I kept my CM detector on top of the fridge-freezer.  I bought it from Wilko before 2014, but this summer I realised the batteries were not working and when I tried to change them, the detector broke, but I have not bought another yet, so thankyou....

    I did wonder why my smoke detectors kept going off a while ago: it was the rain, which can apparently set them off (my windows were open).
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    @Fire, thanks for posting that. OH has recently replaced all the smoke detectors, and checked the carbon monoxide detector at the same time. I must keep an eye on it, OH is guilty of putting so much vinegar on his chips that it makes him cough! Hopefully not enough to set the alarm off!
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2023
    Some years ago @wild edges did some great tool cleaning threads and since then I have been vinegaring my tools to great effect. After the soak (it may take a few days) I do a light scrub with a metal scrubber and then wash, dry and oil. Messy but fun.

    Any acid would do but vinegar is the cheapest and most readily available. I get five litre jugs and fill a highsided container.

    I often do the shower heads and taps with the same vinegar bath to get off limescale, before discarding the solution.




  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    I checked my carbon monoxide alarm, but I note that it was replaced in 2017, so it has a while to run yet. 
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    edited October 2023
    I have a carbon monoxide alarm on the wall opposite my bedroom door and when I leave my bedroom in the middle of the night to answer the call of duty it quite often flashes I wonder if it is taking photos of me in my jimjams.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's just telling you it's operational
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    How does it know that I'm there though.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    One of ours flashes every so often, the other one doesn't. The flashing one is in the spare bedroom (where the boiler is) so it doesn't annoy us.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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