When it comes to your boiler one of the most dangerous things that can occur is a gas leak. Or more significantly a Carbon Monoxide leak. Carbon Monoxide is one of the gases that burns within your boiler in order to make it work. At Greener Homes we are expert heating engineers, but our job is also to make sure you are safe within your home. In this article we look at how to protect your home from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Why Is Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?
Carbon Monoxide is a silent, invisible and odourless gas that can have a profound effect on your home if there is a leak. The gas itself is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Boilers need gases to burn in order to generate the heat for your home.
The gas itself can leak from various parts of your boiler as it passes around the pipework to heat your home. Therefore ensuring that the pipes within your home are checked regularly as well as your boiler is a must.
What Can I Do?
When it comes to protecting your home there are many things in which you can do to stop a leak and also prevent it. These measures are a combination of things that you can do personally, as well as what a professional heating engineer is also able to do.
Have Your Boiler Serviced
Boiler servicing is one of the best ways to prevent and stop leaks from occurring. A boiler service is the process of having a registered heating engineer come to your home or business and conduct an assessment on your whole boiler.
The assessment will include checking the internal and external workings, but also to ensure that the integrity of all the pipework is where it needs to be. At this stage the engineer will be able to repair anything that needs repairing, or advise you on anything that you need to be aware of.
A boiler service is advised to be conducted on a yearly basis. This is due to a boiler being used regularly, as well as being able to ensure that the integrity of all the inner workings are where they should be.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
The use of Carbon Monoxide alarms have increased in many years, and this is due to more caution being placed upon the effects of a leak within your home. The positioning of the alarm is one of the most important considerations to ensure that they are effective. Guidance on where to put the alarms are as follows:-
- Put a detector in every room that contains a fuel burning appliance, or in a central location such as a hallway or landing.
- Do not put the alarm in cupboards or behind furniture.
- Keep the alarm away from high condensation areas such as bathrooms or next to cooker hobs.
- Ensure to test the alarm regularly and make sure batteries are replaced regularly.
Know The Signs
If your boiler does have a leak which you are not aware of, then there are signs within yourself that you will notice. The effects of Carbon Monoxide are easy to spot, and you will see a difference in how you feel. Signs to look out for include:-
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vision Problems
These are just some of the signs to look out for. If you do think you have a Carbon Monoxide leak then contact a registered heating engineer straight away.
To Conclude
As you can see from above, Carbon Monoxide is a harmful gas that needs to be taken seriously within your home. How to protect your home from Carbon Monoxide is very simple and being aware of what you need to do is very important for everyone’s safety. At Greener Homes we are gas safety registered heating engineers who are specially trained to the highest of industry standards. If you need help with your boiler, be that servicing or advice then please feel free to Contact Us.