Throughout the winter, temperatures outside often drop below zero, prompting many to crank up their heating to maintain a cosy home. With heating systems working overtime during the colder months, it’s crucial to monitor your boiler’s health.
Joshua Houston, a boiler expert at GreenMatch, warns that there is a telltale sign indicating a problem with your heating system – an unusual smell emanating from your boiler. He identifies three distinct odours that could signal your heating system is in trouble.
Early detection of these smells can prompt swift action, potentially necessitating professional help or even immediate evacuation from your home. Joshua explains why you should be alert to these specific scents and what they signify.
Rotten eggs
According to the expert, an inexplicable rotten egg-like smell is a common indicator of trouble, possibly pointing to a gas leak. “Firstly, turn off your gas supply at the energy control valve, or your heating system’s equivalent. Then, evacuate all of your household members immediately, along with any pets. This is because a spark could cause a potentially deadly explosion”, Joshua says.
He also recommends contacting a Gas Safe registered professional who should be able to diagnose and rectify the issue, reports the Express.
Burning
One of the most alarming odours to detect in your home is that of burning. This aroma can be triggered by a multitude of factors and can be notably challenging to pinpoint.
Boilers can produce this smell if dust or other debris burns after making contact with the hot metal coil. However, there’s no need for alarm if the smell dissipates after roughly 30 minutes.
Joshua said: “If it hasn’t, then this might be a sign that your boiler is overheating, particularly if your hot water supply is erratic. In this situation, you should switch off your gas supply before summoning a professional to inspect it. A metallic smell could be due to the same reason as the rotten egg smell, the boiler expert elaborates. In this instance, the same steps should be taken because a gas leak is highly dangerous and should be treated with utmost seriousness.
Metallic
He further highlighted that another significant concern is carbon monoxide, as a metallic smell is also an indication that it might be leaking.
Joshua said: “Alternatively, it could be an oil leakage from your boiler. Don’t try and fix the problem yourself; instead, call a professional who will try and rectify it safely.”
Carbon monoxide itself is odourless, which underscores the necessity of calling in a Gas Safe Engineer to investigate. The boiler expert emphasised the importance of recognising these odours, stating: “It’s crucial that the public is aware of these three smells related to boilers. As otherwise they could be in serious danger without their knowledge.”
Calling a professional or evacuating a home can save lives. He added: “On average, 40 people die a year in the UK from deaths relating to boilers.
“So, smells that you might think are innocent really need to be taken seriously.”