As we hurtle into winter and temperatures continue to drop, the natural reaction is to wrap up and stay cosy. Many of us will crank up the heating without a second thought, plunge into a warm bath and have our gas cookers on overdrive as we cook our winter warmers and festive treats.
A large percentage of the UK population depends heavily on gas heating in the colder months, but too often people are left in the cold after an unprecedented breakdown. Sadly, each year many others also face life-threatening consequences, such as hypothermia or carbon monoxide poisoning, as a result of unsafe or old heating systems.
With a little bit of know-how these incidents could, more often than not, be easily prevented. Luckily, Mark Kennedy, director at Mark Kennedy Heating Solutions and Trades Awards 2014 tradesman of the year has lent us his top boiler safety tips for staying safe this winter:
1. Don’t Delay Your Boiler Service
I strongly advise that, come winter, a serviced boiler is essential for ensuring reliability and safety. Potential breakdowns can often be spotted during an annual gas safety check and could prevent your boiler from breaking down during the colder weather. There are many things that people can be doing to ensure reliability; and signs to be aware of to ensure you and your family’s safety.”
2. Use A Gas Safe Registered Business or Engineer
Ensure that anyone carrying out work on your boiler is registered via the Gas Safe Register. The register replaced CORGI in 2009 as the gas registration body in the UK to protect the public from unsafe gas work. Also make sure that the engineer in question is qualified for the work they are carrying out by consulting the register, and always check the engineer’s ID card on arrival. On the back of the card should list the engineer’s areas of competence such as ‘Gas Boiler’.
3. Seek Advice From A Reputable Source
If you are unsure of anything, request a visit from an engineer to show you how to top up pressure, set your programme to maximum efficiency, bleed radiators, prevent flooding by locating the mains valve in an emergency, and much more.
4. Install A Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Do not underestimate the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. You cannot see it, taste it or smell it; therefore without an alarm you are at a higher risk of becoming a victim of the “silent killer”. Of course, regular servicing and maintenance of your gas appliances can significantly reduce the risk, but for all year round protection install an alarm. They don’t cost much and could save your life.
5. Know the Correct Symptoms
If there is a carbon monoxide leak, knowing the symptoms could save multiple lives. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapsing and loss of consciousness are all signs of CO poisoning. Other people and animals will also experience the same symptoms at the same time. Negative effects of CO will disappear or get better when you leave your home and get worse again when you return. If any of these symptoms are familiar to you call an engineer as soon as possible to have your system checked.
6. You should always be prepared
Due to seasonal demand registered businesses are busier than normal and we all know your boiler can still let you down when you least expect it. Stocking up on portable fan heaters, warm clothing and blankets will save you going cold while waiting for the engineer to arrive. Some central heating systems will also have an immersions heater. This is an electric heating element that will heat a tank of hot water via a switch, and is usually located in the cylinder cupboard or kitchen. This should provide sufficient hot water until your boiler is up and running again.”
To find more rated tradesmen, or to seek the advice of other registered, rated and recommended experts visit: www.tradesadvisor.com
