A CO2 leak from your boiler could kill within hours, yet despite this many homeowners forget at least one of their annual services in their boiler’s lifetime. If you can’t remember when you last had yours serviced, you could soon become one of the annual 4,000 people who are admitted to A and E with carbon monoxide poisoning or, far worse still, join one of the 50 yearly fatalities.
So here’s how to sleep soundly at night, safe in the knowledge that your boiler is fit for purpose and safe for use.
1.You smell either gas or fumes
No matter how faint or how short a time the scent may linger for, smelling gas or fumes in your home requires an immediate evacuation and a call to the National Grid on 0800 111 999.
2.There are scorch marks and/or soot/black rings
Discolouration on any part of your boiler or in the immediate surrounds is cause for concern when the markings appear to be burns, scorches or remnants of soot. Each is a sign that the boiler is heating up in areas to such a degree so as to leave marking, which in turn could be down to any number of reasons (such as incorrect burner pressures, a defective flue or an incorrect pressure at meter outlet).
3.The pilot light goes outs frequently without explanation or turns into an orange/yellow flame, rather than a blue one
If your pilot light is continually going out you’ll need a plumber to explore why this may be, as it signals a problem with the consistency of the gas supply.
If your pilot light turns an orange or yellow colour (as opposed to a bright blue colour) you’ll, again need to contact a plumber. As you may or may not recall from your chemistry levels in days gone by, blue flames are the most energy efficient, while orange or yellow flames produce far more heat, and can be a sign that the boiler is emitting CO2. Most specifically, it means that the gas-to-air mixture in your boiler is imbalanced, with too much air entering the system.
4.You often feel faint, have a headache or nausea, with no medical explanation
While feeling faint, and suffering from intermittent headaches and/or nausea can have numerous causes, they are also the primary three symptoms of CO2 poisoning before unconsciousness. Further signs that you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning include: dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty breathing and confusion.
Platinum Plumbers Pro Tip: Beyond comprehensive boiler servicing the best step you can take for a safe boiler is to buy a CO2 detector. Priced from £20, these devices won’t break the bank, but they may well save your life. You should purchase one for each level within your home, and ensure that any room with an open fire has one.
Suspect that your boiler is on its last legs and has potential to become a threat to your health? We undertake thorough boiler servicing, as well as the supplying and fitting of industry-leading boiler brands. Speak with the Platinum Plumbers team on 020 8855 0361 to find out how we can help you.
