CO warning as people reach for the thermostat/Rhybudd CO wrth i bobl droi’r thermostat i fyny

CO warning as people reach for the thermostat

Now that the weather is taking a turn for the worse, more people will be reaching for the thermostat or stoking up their wood burners for extra warmth.

But Carmarthenshire County Council is urging people to ensure their gas and solid fuel heaters are safe and serviced.

Teams from Public Protection, Property Services and Housing are all playing their part in encouraging tenants, landlords and homeowners to check that their boilers, gas and solid fuel fires are properly maintained.

Failure to do so could be deadly – on average, 50 people a year across the UK are killed by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning due to faulty heating appliances.

Carbon monoxide is known as a ‘silent killer’ as it is odourless, colourless and tasteless, making it difficult to detect. It can be given off by appliances that burn fossil fuels such as gas, coal, wood or oil if the appliances are not working properly, the flue is blocked, or the room is not properly ventilated.

But simple annual maintenance and regular checks can be all it takes to ensure they are working safely.

For a small cost, CO alarms can also provide extra peace of mind, giving a vital warning should it start to leak into the home.

Previously, the council has executed a warrant to gain entry into a Llanelli tenant’s home after failed attempts to service his gas boiler, demonstrating the importance it places on ensuring heating appliances are safe.

Cllr Philip Hughes, executive board member for public protection, said: “You can’t put a price on your family’s life – please ensure that you have your appliances serviced ahead of the winter season for your safety and peace of mind.

“At this time, we also remind landlords of their responsibilities towards their tenants, and also urge tenants to allow landlords and contractors to carry out servicing works without delay.”

Early warning signs of CO poisoning include feeling unusually faint or suffering headaches. If CO is detected, you should leave the room immediately, open doors and windows and call for help.

Further information and advice about carbon monoxide and servicing is available on the council’s website, www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales

In brief, for solid fuel fires:

·         Chimneys should be swept at least once a year

·         The throat plate and flue should be cleaned every fortnight and after heavy rain and strong winds

·         Ash pans should be emptied at least once a day

·         To burn safely, logs should be well seasoned, dry, with low resin content and not painted or varnished

·         Rooms need to be ventilated as the fire needs fresh air to burn safely

 Rhybudd CO wrth i bobl droi’r thermostat i fyny

Mae’r tywydd yn oeri a bydd mwy o bobl yn troi’r thermostat i fyny neu’n cynnau tân i gael rhagor o wres.

Ond mae Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin yn annog pobl i sicrhau bod eu gwresogyddion nwy a thanwydd solet yn ddiogel ac wedi cael gwasanaeth.

Mae timau o’r is-adrannau Diogelu’r Cyhoedd, Gwasanaethau Eiddo a Thai i gyd yn chwarae eu rhan drwy annog tenantiaid, landlordiaid a pherchnogion tai i sicrhau bod eu bwyleri a’u tanau nwy a thanwydd solet yn cael eu cynnal a’u cadw’n iawn.

Gallai methu â gwneud hyn fod yn berygl bywyd – ar gyfartaledd, mae 50 o bobl y flwyddyn ledled y Deyrnas Unedig yn marw drwy gael eu gwenwyno gan garbon monocsid o ganlyniad i offer gwresogi sy’n ddiffygiol.

Mae nwy carbon monocsid yn cael ei alw’n ‘lladdwr tawel’ gan nad oes ganddo arogl, lliw na blas, sy’n golygu ei fod yn anodd ei synhwyro.

Gall offer sy’n defnyddio tanwyddau ffosil, megis nwy, glo, coed neu olew, ollwng carbon monocsid os nad ydynt yn gweithio’n iawn, os yw’r ffliw wedi cael ei rhwystro, neu os nad yw’r ystafell wedi cael ei hawyru’n gywir.

Ond mae gwaith cynnal a chadw blynyddol syml a gwiriadau rheolaidd yn ddigon i sicrhau eu bod yn gweithio’n ddiogel.

Mae larymau carbon monocsid, y gellir eu prynu am dâl bychan, hefyd yn gallu darparu tawelwch meddwl ychwanegol, gan seinio rhybudd hanfodol bwysig os bydd y nwy yn dechrau gollwng yn y cartref.

Yn flaenorol, mae’r cyngor wedi gweithredu gwarant i gael mynediad i gartref tenant yn Llanelli ar ôl methu yn eu hymdrechion i wasanaethu ei fwyler nwy, gan ddangos pa mor bwysig yw sicrhau bod offer gwresogi yn ddiogel.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Philip Hughes, yr aelod o’r bwrdd gweithredol dros ddiogelu’r cyhoedd: “Ni allwch roi pris ar fywyd eich teulu – sicrhewch fod eich offer yn cael gwasanaeth cyn y gaeaf er diogelwch a thawelwch meddwl.

“Ar yr adeg hon, rydym hefyd yn atgoffa landlordiaid o’u cyfrifoldebau tuag at eu tenantiaid, ac rydym yn annog tenantiaid i ganiatáu i landlordiaid a chontractwyr wneud gwaith gwasanaethu yn ddi-oed.”

Mae arwyddion cynnar gwenwyn carbon monocsid yn cynnwys  teimlo eich bod ar fin llewygu neu bennau tost.

Os yw carbon monocsid yn cael ei synhwyro, dylech adael yr ystafell ar unwaith, agor y drysau a’r ffenestri a galw am gymorth.

Mae rhagor o wybodaeth a chyngor ynghylch carbon monocsid a gwasanaethu offer ar gael ar wefan y  Cyngor, www.sirgar.llyw.cymru

Yn fyr, os oes gennych dân tanwydd solet:

·         Dylech sgubo simneiau o leiaf unwaith y flwyddyn

·         Dylech lanhau’r gyddfblat a’r ffliw bob pythefnos ac ar ôl glaw trwm a gwyntoedd cryfion

·         Dylech wacáu’r blwch lludw o leiaf unwaith y dydd

·         I losgi’n ddiogel, dylai’r coed fod wedi cael digon o amser i sychu’n iawn, ni ddylent gynnwys llawer o resin ac ni ddylent fod wedi’u paentio na’u farnisio.

·         Mae angen awyru ystafelloedd gan fod angen awyr iach er mwyn i dân losgi’n ddiogel.