By: Eugene Sabri
Submitted: 2009-05-24 23:58:32 | Word Count: 377
A boiler should receive a safety check and service from a qualified, CORGI or OFTEC registered technician on an annual basis. You should never attempt to service a boiler yourself, even if you are adept at other types of household repairs, as a faulty boiler can be lethal.
Making sure that your boiler is professionally maintained on a regular basis is the key to avoiding problems and expensive repairs.
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Fixing a boiler can be an expensive business, which is why the majority of boiler owners take out boiler insurance plans, which often include the yearly service as part of the deal.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can be given off by the incomplete burning of gas by household appliances due to an insufficient supply of oxygen. It is colourless and odourless, so there is no way of detecting it without the aid of a separate device.
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.
There are several things that you can look out for that might indicate the presence or otherwise of carbon monoxide.
If the pilot light blows out on a regular basis, this is an indication that something is wrong with your boiler, which could lead to the production of carbon monoxide.
Look at the flame in your appliance. If it is yellow or red, rather than blue, then this could mean that carbon monoxide is being produced.
If a gas appliance has brownish or yellow stains around it, then have it checked out as this could indicate that the appliance is producing carbon monoxide.
If the room where the appliance is being used seems to exhibit an unusually high condensation level, it is a good idea to get your boiler checked by a professional as soon as possible.
