How to keep your boiler safe

You’ve all heard those scenarios where someone is waiting for their guests to arrive for Christmas and their heating breaks down the night before… And then of course there’s the more alarming and potentially lethal possibility of a carbon monoxide or gas leak, or a fire cause by an electric fault.

At the least, a poorly maintained heating system could cost you energy and money. Especially if it breaks down when you need it most, in the coldest months, which will mean you’ll rely on your local repairman’s availability and willingness to fix it in a hurry.

You should ensure your boiler and heating system are working correctly before the winter sets in. If you wait until your boiler breaks down, it can be very expensive. Heating cover can ensure your system is regularly maintained, and that you will have someone on hand to deal with an emergency. It also takes the stress out of finding a reliable serviceman.

The best way to be sure about your appliances is to have them checked regularly by an accredited serviceman:

• NEVER tamper with appliances yourself
• If you are in rented accommodation, it is your landlord's responsibility to ensure that all appliances are maintained properly. If you have any concerns about appliances in rented accommodation, talk to your landlord
• Poorly maintained gas appliances (in particular, gas fires) can emit carbon monoxide, an odourless, colourless and potentially fatal gas. Carbon monoxide detectors can be bought relatively cheaply from most good electrical and home stores to alert you if carbon monoxide is present in your home
• If your carbon monoxide detector shows a presence of carbon monoxide, switch off your gas supply and call Transco’s emergency number IMMEDIATELY on 0800 111 999
• If you smell gas, or think you have a gas leak in your home, turn off your gas supply, do not switch any electrical appliances on or off or bring naked flames into your home, and call Transco’s emergency number IMMEDIATELY on 0800 111 999

The government gives the following advice for the use of gas appliances:

• Never use a gas appliance if you think it is faulty. Signs to look out for include yellow or orange flames (except for fuel-effect fires which display this colour flame), soot or stains around the appliance and pilot lights which frequently blow out
• Never cover an appliance or block the convection air vents
• Never block or obstruct any fixed ventilation grilles or air bricks
• Never block or cover outside flues