Boiler awareness

In the past, boilers needed to be operated manually but recent developments in digital technology have meant that nearly all of these old manual controls can be automated. With this lack of interaction, however, comes with it the decreased likelihood of you ever noticing if your boiler is malfunctioning - until, perhaps, it is too late. All is not lost, however, as long as you carry out all the recommended safety checks on a regular basis.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and potentially lethal gas created by a process known as ‘incomplete combustion', in which a hydrocarbon such as household gas is burned in an atmosphere with insufficient oxygen. This can happen in a faulty, or inappropriately positioned, gas boiler, even if it appears to be functioning correctly.The first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in humans include nausea, tiredness, headaches and chest or stomach pains. It is often confused with flu but if you experience any of these symptoms while using a gas appliance, you need urgent medical attention.

Because of the effect that carbon monoxide has on the body, smaller people will succumb to its deadly effects quicker, which means that children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.Although you can't see or smell carbon monoxide, there are some things that you can look out for that might indicate the presence or otherwise of carbon monoxide:
Flames which are yellow or red rather than blue, pilot lights that are frequently blown out, brownish yellow stains around the appliance, or high condensation levels in the room can all point to a possible carbon monoxide presence.
It is highly recommended that you fit an audible CO alarm, which works much like a smoke alarm, but for carbon monoxide. These cost around £20 and are available from most hardware and DIY stores. Although there are cheaper, non-audible ‘black spot' detectors on the market, these are not recommended, as they are often inaccurate and cannot alert you if you are out of the room or overcome by fumes.

A boiler should receive a safety check and service from a qualified, CORGI or OFTEC registered technician on an annual basis. Don't be tempted to try and save money by servicing it yourself, as it could cost you your life.

Making sure that your boiler is professionally maintained on a regular basis is the key to avoiding problems and expensive repairs.

One of the best ways to make sure that you never have to pay expensive emergency fees if your boiler or heating system breaks down, or never have to skip a vital service due to a lack of funds, is to take out boiler insurance. Most boiler cover plans will include the yearly service as part of the deal, although it is important to check before you commit.

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