If your gas boiler is leaking, the way you must react to the level of danger is completely different for a gas leak vs a water leak. To make sure our readers appreciate the very real dangers of a gas leak we wrote this article to compare how to react to each! This article is not just for homeowners either. Everyone who is alone or in charge of a house needs to know this.
Watch Out! It’s a Gas Leak!
There are a number of different things that can cause a boiler to start leaking gas. This type of problem can be very dangerous and could cause serious damage to your home. There might be a gas explosion and if so a large proportion of those result in serious injury or death.
For instance, if you did not maintain your flue or the gas pipelines then this could be a problem. It is important to ensure that in any property the gas flows through the system properly and that gas pipes do not ever get damaged.
If you think your gas pipe is leaking because you can smell it, then you should call your regional or local gas energy company immediately and follow their instructions.
If the odor is strong, don’t delay before making the call. Get all other occupants out of the front gate to a safe distance or well back the into the garden before you call the emergency gas leak number.
The phone number for this is most likely prominently shown on a sticker the original gas engineer will have stuck onto your boiler somewhere or Google the name of your gas supply company. The emergency gas leak phone number is usually displayed prominently on their website.
Don’t go back into the property is the smell is strong.
Only if the smell is almost undetectable can you stick around to do some diagnosis. Check all of the pipes and connections in the installation and make sure that they are not broken. Sometimes a gas leak odor could have also come from the pilot light or a flue pipe. In some instances, this would not be a cause for concern.
Even though officials say that the cause for most gas leakages is due to seepage through cracks, they also say that a natural gas leak by gas pipe rupture is far more dangerous and can occur. Your home might be more prone to natural gas leaks or rupture than others, for example, some gas supply pipes are left by plumbers in some homes which run unprotected up walls. Unprotected gas pipes can be hit or knocked out of place and rupture.
However, when gas seepage through pipe joints etc. occurs it is often difficult for anyone without specialist leak detection equipment to pinpoint exactly where these leaks are taking place. They usually take place at joints that are not sealed properly and if the gas pressure was too high, cracks may form and start to leak.
When a boiler leaks gas it will be isolated from the gas supply immediately and the owner of the property will not on any account be allowed to use it. If a heating engineer on inspection of a boiler decides it is not repairable and condemns it, the owner has no alternative but to replace it with a new one.
O.K. It’s a Water Leak
In contrast to a gas leak there is a far lower risk of injury or death. The peril may be to your possessions and the cost can be huge, but no regulations will prevent you doing most, if not all, of the repair work yourself. As long as you take great care not to injure yourself you will be fine.
An official from the National Fire Protection Association was quoted as saying:
That the main cause for home heating and hot water supply hot water leakage is tank and central heating radiator corrosion and the problem usually occurs first in the hot water tank.
A heating maintenance company would recommend that you get an annual boiler service to avoid the occurrence of this kind of boiler leaking situation, and check water meters monthly for unexpectedly high water use. In fact, many people would recommend having your combi boiler serviced every six months. There are a number of reasons why this should be done, and it has to do with safety and the efficient use of the gas you pay for.
An official US investigation recently found that the rate of occurrence of all a boiler leaking water was increasing year after year. It was found that the boiler installation work of 21 out of 24 heaters was faulty in some way. Boiler leaking, boiler pressure, lack of pressure relief and boilers not gas safe were all found. Out of those, it was found that some of the leaking boilers were not even making a great job of providing heat and maintaining proper temperatures in the house. Similar results were found recently for when investigation the plumbing of boilers in Glasgow’s south side.
What Should I Do if My Boiler Is Leaking Water?
If you have a water leak in your boiler, a plumber will recommend that you replace the entire unit with a new model. Once a new boiler has been installed by a qualified plumber you should then properly follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. You should follow all the safety precautions as well as user recommendations given by the manufacturer.
However, if the water leak work cannot be repaired by yourself, we would recommend hiring the services of an expert. A professional will be able to carry out the gas boiler repairs and cure all leaking water for you.
They will ensure that the device is safe for use and will normally bring it back to perfect working condition. Of course, old and corroded boilers and central heating system. may not make financial sense to be repaired, and for that reason are often completely replaced after leaking.
So, the message is gas leaks are so dangerous you must act with safety first and not cost in mind. The wrong action in a serious gas leak could cause an explosion which may cost you, and people around you, their lives. Always phone for emergency assistance if in any doubt at all about the severity of a gas leak.
Water leaks are different. Water leaks involving hot or cold water usually cause financial damage first and safety hazards second, so in such instances, you can pursue DIY diagnostics and remedies if you wish.
However, always make sure you have a qualified professional to advise you who has the necessary knowledge about working on your boiler or heating system. Do not attempt to fix the problem on your own unless you have been trained to do so or know how you can do the job, and you may want to take out boiler cover.