Having a faulty boiler is something that we often save up to get fixed.  But when a faulty boiler becomes dangerous, it needs addressing as soon as possible. Any gas appliance, whether a boiler or something else, can be a huge health risk.  Therefore it should be approached with caution. A faulty boiler may just be one that plays up.  Perhaps it just needs resetting before it works now and again.  But knowing when your faulty boiler is reaching dangerous levels of safety is paramount to keeping you and your family safe.

Here is what you should look out for when your boiler is faulty.

Understanding Your Boiler

In the room your boiler is kept, there should be a pressure relief valve, thermostats, an oxygen depletion sensor, and an overheat stat.  These should give you a pretty good idea of is something is going wrong. You must know how to read these to understand when any of the pressures or temperatures are abnormal. You should also have a carbon monoxide detector in this room and in other rooms of your house.  These will keep you safe and aware of any potential leaks in your boiler.

The Four Signs to Look Out For

There are four common signs that indicate your boiler is more than just faulty. One of the most obvious signs that your boiler is not just faulty but is actually letting out gas is if you can smell gas fumes around your home. This may be coming straight from the boiler room itself or may have even spread to other rooms in your house. If this is the case, you need to turn off your boiler immediately.  Also ensure you do not have any naked flames anywhere in the house.

Another sign to be aware of is black marks or soot around the boiler area. If your pilot light has turned into a yellow flame or keeps going out, this is also a sign of something more serious. If you and anyone else within the home begin to feel nauseous or have a headache, this could be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning. Your boiler should be turned off immediately.  Additionally you should evacuate the premises as a matter of urgency.

What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide poisoning is extremely dangerous.  It can prove lethal if not noticed. At the first sign of nausea or headaches, get some fresh air. Then contact a professional to take a look. Carbon monoxide, also referred to as CO, is a poisonous gas.  It can begin to be produced by your boiler if it is not being maintained properly or if it has not been fitted correctly. Therefore, it is so important to have carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home.

The problem with carbon monoxide is that you cannot see it and you cannot smell it. This gas is known as the silent killer.  Unless you notice the warning signs in time, you are not aware you are breathing it in until it is too late. If you are asleep and this happens, this can be extremely dangerous and could cost you your life. Don’t chance it, for as little as £10 you can keep you and your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Faults That Aren’t Dangerous

There are some faults that are not dangerous and don’t require immediate attention.  But this does not mean that you should leave them to get worse for long! Some faults can break your boiler. Getting them fixed sooner will be less costly than having to replace your whole boiler. If your boiler is losing pressure, overheating, has air in the system or has sticking valves, these will not cause any immediate danger to your or your family.  However you should get them fixed.

What to Do Next

Whether your boilers faults are dangerous or not.  You will need a team of experts who can get your boiler up and running for a great price. One highly rated provider can be seen through Certi UK who offer boiler cover, boiler repairs, boiler maintenance and deal with home emergencies. It also comes with a free boiler service, meaning that if your boiler is faulty, this can be caught before it becomes anything untoward. They are also serious about your health and will ensure that your carbon monoxide detector is working too. If you do notice a problem with your boiler that may have been present for a while, you could get yourself checked out for carbon monoxide poisoning just to be on the safe side.

Don’t leave anything to chance, having an expert boiler team available 24 hours a day means that in the case of your faulty boiler becoming dangerous, you can get it fixed and keep you and your family safe.  Or maybe even think about updating your heating system instead.