Does your boiler smell? Here’s what it means and why you shouldn’t ignore it.
In winter, your boiler is probably the most important appliance in your home. If it breaks down, it’s quickly a disaster. No more hot water, no more heating, no more hobs… But that’s not all, if it is damaged, the effects on your gas or electricity bill can be enormous (an inflated gas bill can be one of the first signs that your boiler is broken). This is a device that needs to be taken care of.
Like any appliance, a boiler can experience problems, and it is crucial to identify them quickly to avoid serious and potentially dangerous breakdowns. Many of us know to pay attention to the first signs of boiler failure. Loud gurgling noises can indicate trapped air, whistling sounds or vibrations can mean many problems, from a blocked flue to poor pressure, clicking noises can be due to overheating or a faulty thermostat, and a Hissing sound may be due to limescale or rust.
If all these signs are more or less known, there is another clue to look out for on gas boilers: the smell. It turns out that a foul odor could indicate a serious problem with your boiler. For added safety, gas industries add an artificial odor to the gas, to make its smell more perceptible and to help detect a leak. If you smell this odor at home, you must act immediately.
Start by ventilating your home, close the gas tap, do not light a lighter or electrical appliance, leave your home, and contact the fire brigade. This smell can come from a defective appliance (boiler or gas cooker with one of the burners is outdated, for example) which leaks gas molecules without burning them, or from a faulty connection.
Other bad odors, with less serious consequences, can also be a sign of a faulty boiler. For example, a smell of burning metal, melted plastic, or burning oil could be due to frayed electrical wires. In this case, you must immediately turn off your boiler and call an expert. Rotten smells could be coming from mold buildup in your boiler. A simple burning smell that comes out when you turn on your boiler could simply be due to a build-up of dust on your boiler or radiators. In this case, turn off the boiler and clean everything thoroughly.
