How Safe Is My Boiler?

Are you worried about how safe your boiler is? We know that it can be a real worry, and concerns about gas leaks and carbon monoxide are, of course, very valid. Recent statistics highlight the seriousness of these risks. According to research, there were 270 gas explosions in homes across England in 2021/22, with nearly 30% resulting in significant injury or death. These explosions can have a blast radius up to 35 metres, potentially causing more damage than a hand grenade.

However, there’s also some good news. Modern boilers are equipped with advanced safety features that make them highly reliable. When properly maintained, they’re very safe, and the number of incidents of this nature has decreased significantly over the years.

Nevertheless, to offer you even more peace of mind, in this article, we’ll explore the importance of boiler safety, discuss common risks, and offer practical tips on how to keep your boiler in excellent condition.

What makes a boiler safe?

A boiler is safe when it’s correctly installed and regularly serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer. These professionals are certified to handle gas appliances safely and are trained to spot and fix any issues that could compromise your safety.

As we’ve mentioned, modern boilers come equipped with several safety features including:

• Pressure Release Valve: This prevents excess pressure from building up in the boiler. If the pressure gets too high, the valve will release water to reduce it, preventing potential leaks or explosions;
• Room-Sealed Design: Modern boilers are often room-sealed. This means they draw air for combustion from outside the house and expel exhaust gases back outside, so no harmful gases (like carbon monoxide) leak into the living space;
• Flame Supervision Device: This device makes sure that if the flame goes out unexpectedly, the gas supply is automatically shut off’
• Thermostats and Temperature Limit Controls: These components monitor and regulate the water temperature in the boiler;
• Automatic Air Vent: This feature helps remove trapped air within the system.
• Condensate Trap and Pipe: These components safely manage the condensation produced by high-efficiency boilers, ensuring it is drained away;
• Overheat Thermostat: This safety device shuts the boiler down if it detects and unsafe rise in temperature, protecting the boiler and your home from potential overheating damage.

These features, combined with regular servicing by Gas Safe registered engineers, ensure that modern boilers are both safe and efficient, providing peace of mind and reliable heating.

Common boiler issues and their safety implications

Addressing common boiler issues promptly can prevent minor problems from becoming major safety concerns. Below are some warning signs to look out for and what you should do if you notice them.

Leaking Water

A water leak from your boiler can be caused by a faulty pressure valve, corroded pipes, or issues with the tank itself.

If you notice water leaking, it’s important to switch off the boiler immediately to prevent further damage.

Then, call a professional to assess and fix the problem. Ignoring a leak can lead to water damage or cause your electrics to short. While this doesn’t pose an immediate risk to life, it could prove expensive!

Pilot Light Changes Colour

The pilot light in your boiler should always burn bright blue. If it changes to yellow or orange, it is a sign of poor combustion, which can be a sign of carbon monoxide production – a serious safety risk as carbon monoxide can be deadly.

If you notice a change in the pilot light colour accompanied by the smell of gas, signs of soot, or scorch marks on the boiler, turn it off straight away and contact a Gas Safe registered engineer immediately.

Boiler Making Noises

If your boiler starts making loud noises, like banging, whistling, or gurgling, it can be a sign of underlying issues that need addressing.

While there is no immediate safety in a grumbling or gurgling boiler, if left unchecked, problems like a buildup of limescale in the heat exchanger can lead to more severe damage or even a complete boiler breakdown.

Boiler Keeps Turning Off

A boiler that frequently turns itself off could be experiencing low water pressure, a malfunctioning thermostat, or a problem with the pump. These issues can be resolved with basic troubleshooting – like checking the thermostat settings or re-pressurising the system – persistent problems, however, require professional intervention.

Heating or Hot Water Not Working

If your heating or hot water is not working, it could be down to a malfunctioning thermostat or a broken component, like the diverter valve.

To troubleshoot this, you can check the thermostat settings to see if the boiler pressure is within the recommended range or look for error codes on the boiler display.

If these steps don’t resolve the problem, it’s time to contact an engineer. Attempting to fix more complex issues without professional help can lead to further damage and safety risks.

What are the carbon monoxide risks posed by boilers?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas you can’t see, smell, or taste, and it can be really dangerous – an average of 30 deaths per year in the UK are related to carbon monoxide poisoning from various sources, including boilers.

This is because if they’re not working properly they can produce CO, especially if there’s not enough oxygen for the boiler to burn fuel completely because of blockages or faulty parts.

If your boiler’s pilot light changes from blue to yellow or orange, that’s a warning sign. It means the combustion isn’t right and CO might be produced

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion.

To protect yourself against these risks, you should get your boiler serviced annually and install CO detectors in your home. This way, you can catch any leaks early and stay safe.

How to identify a gas leak

There are three key ways you might identify a gas leak if you don’t have CO detectors in your home. These are:

1. Smell: You might notice a strong smell of rotten eggs. This is the odour added to natural gas as it is usually odourless;
2. Sound: You may hear a hissing or whistling noise near your boiler, gas appliances, or pipelines;
3. Sight: Bubbles in standing water can indicate a gas leak, or you might notice a damaged connection.

If you do come across any of these signs: don’t panic. Instead, stay calm and act quickly. In the first instance, if it’s safe, turn off the gas at the metre. Then, open doors and windows to ventilate your home and let the gas escape.

Do not under any circumstances light any matches, smoke, or use any electrical switches.

Instead, leave the area immediately and from a safe location call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

Boiler safety FAQs

What should I do if my boiler is leaking water?

If your boiler is leaking water:

1. Switch off the boiler
2. Check the pressure gauge. If it’s too high, this might be causing the leak
3. Look for visible signs of where the leak might be coming from, like a loose pipe or valve;
4. Put a bucket or towels under the leak;
5. Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect and repair the boiler.

You should not try to fix the leak yourself unless you’re qualified to do so!

Can a boiler leak carbon monoxide when turned off?

A boiler can’t leak carbon monoxide when it is turned off as it is produced when fuel is burned. That means, if the boiler isn’t operating, it isn’t burning fuel and, therefore, can’t produce or leak carbon monoxide.

However, if you suspect CO issues or a gas leak, and you’ve turned the boiler off, you should still contact the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 as it may still pose a risk.

Is high boiler pressure dangerous?

High boiler pressure can be dangerous, leading to leaks, damage to the boiler components, and in extreme cases, explosions. High boiler pressure is often caused by overfilling the system, a faulty expansion vessel, or blockages.

That said, modern boilers do have safety mechanisms like pressure valves to prevent and manage this. But if you do have concerns about boiler pressure, you should get them checked to ensure the effectiveness of these safety mechanisms and fix any small problems before they turn into big, expensive, dangerous ones.

Stay boiler safe with Add Heat

Boiler safety involves understanding common issues, performing regular maintenance, and knowing when to call a professional.

Here’s a recap:

• Leaking Water: Turn off the boiler and call a professional.
• Pilot Light Changes Colour: This can indicate a carbon monoxide risk; seek immediate help.
• Loud Noises: Likely due to air built up or low pressure; a good sign your boiler needs servicing;
• Boiler Keeps Turning Off: Could be low pressure or thermostat issues;
• Heating/Hot Water Not Working: Troubleshoot or contact an engineer.

The best way to maintain boiler safety is regular servicing by Gas Registered engineers.

For those in and around Macclesfield, including Wilmslow, Hale, Alderley Edge, Cheadle, Stockport, Cheshire East, Altrincham, Prestbury, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Manchester and Mobberly, Add Heat offers expert advice and servicing for boilers.

Our Gas Safe and OFTEC registered engineers specialise in the servicing, repair, maintenance and installation of gas, oil and LPG boilers and can offer same day callouts should you need them.

A boiler service costs just £75 + VAT and takes less than an hour – a small price to pay for peace of mind in our opinion.

If you’re experiencing problems with your boiler, have concerns about its safety, or require an annual service to ensure the continued safety of your heating system, call us on 01625 464 235 or contact us via our online form.