If you smell gas act quickly – it is poisonous.
The common advice you should take is:-
- open any doors and windows to improve ventilation
- make sure that the gas supply to an appliance has not been left on or that the pilot light has not gone out
- do not use matches or naked flames
- turn the gas supply off at the gas meter
- do not smoke in the are
- do not turn any electrical switches on or off – including light switches and doorbells as they can create a spark and ignite the gas
This also applies if carbon monoxide is on the loose.
Gas boilers are very safe but need regular servicing to ensure that no problems arise.
As your system ages sludge accumulates within the pipework. efficiency is reduced and the only way of restoring your central heating system to normal operation is to flush out the contaminants.
Many commercial plumbers offer a powerflush service which will help to remove this contamination build up.
Most systems develop this contaminants irregardless of type, the main influence is the passage of time and hence the older your system the more likely it is to have this problem. If you purchase new central heating radiators or a gas fired boiler you should give serious consideration to powerflushing the system before these new parts are installed. Whilst your new gas boiler is in pristine condition it will soon have contaminants and debris circulating within it as sludge and debris are agitated as the new components are fitted.
You can purchase corrosion inhibitor in the shops which can be added to the heating system and help to slow any contamination buildup.
The other benefits of a powerflush are that it addresses some of the issues below : -
* accumulation of contaminants within the boiler
* circulation problems with your central heating pump
* pipe blockages
* corrosion
* blockages of pipework and other central heating system components
Addressing these issues mean that you can get the following benefits from a powerflush :-
* helping your water pump to last longer as it handles clean water
* heating radiator heating efficiency improvements as colder areas are eliminated
* lower heating bills through improved heating efficiency
* better heat exchanger operation lowering energy consumption
* reduces hydrogen gas build up which can lead to central heating radiator corrosion and reduced heat output
An automated power-flush machine is used to carry out the gas fired boiler and central heating system cleansing. The gas fired boiler and central heating system water is filtered through the machine which extracts the sediment. At the same time new liquid is fed into your heating system. The heating engineer will usually top up the boiler and central heating system by adding a corrosion inhibitor to protect it in future years.
A power flush be completed by a trained operator to see to it that it is completed correctly and does not create a mess.
