Warning signs your Gas Boiler is not working efficiently.
How can I tell that my boiler is not working efficiently? Here are the main warning signs your gas boiler is not working efficiently.
- Black stains around or on your boiler
- The flame burns Yellow rather than Blue
- Pilot light keeps going out
- Takes a long time to heat up
- Carbon Monoxide poisoning
Your boiler is the hub of your central heating system. Therefore having a boiler that is both efficient and reliable is essential. Not only keeping your house warm and giving you constant running hot water, but also for the safety of your family.
A boiler breaking down is not only inconvenient but it can also be a big expense. Having your boiler serviced annually will help to keep it safe and in good working condition. In between services there are a number of signs that will give you an indication that something is not quite right with your boiler.
We have listed some of the signs below. If you spot any of these signs then it would be advisable to get a Gas Safe registered engineer out to repair your boiler and rectify the issues or if required to install a new boiler for you.
Black stains on or around your boiler
If you are starting to get black stains on or around your boiler this is a sign that there could possibly be a leak on or around your flue.
Leaking boiler emissions can prove fatal see below for Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Yellow rather than a blue flame
When you look and see the flame inside your boiler it should be burning with a blue flame. If it is burning with a yellow flame, this could be a sign that carbon monoxide is being produce.
Pilot Light Keeps Going Out
The most common reason for your pilot light to go out is that the thermocouple needs to be replaced. The thermocouple is a small probe that extends into the flame of the pilot light.
This has a small diameter metal wire that runs back to the gas valve. Always get a Gas Safe registered engineer to fix any problems with your boiler.
Takes a long time to heat up
Modern boilers which are working efficiently will heat up and produce hot water almost instantly. If you find that it is taking longer than usual for hot water to come through to your taps, or for your house to get warm Then that should tell you that your boiler needs to be checked over.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’ due to it being difficult to detect as it is a colourless and odourless gas.
Low levels of carbon monoxide inside the body can produce flu like symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and headaches, however as the levels increase the symptoms become worse such as increased breathing difficulties and in some case carbon monoxide poisoning can cause death.
As mentioned above there are some signs that you can watch out for that will indicate that your boiler could be producing Carbon Monoxide however we recommend that you install a carbon monoxide detector as this is the best way to detect raised levels of Carbon Monoxide. They are now widely available and can be tested as part of your annual boiler service.
Those are the main warning signs your gas boiler is not working efficiently.