» Help & AdviceHow to turn off your water supply without damaging your boiler Heating System Corrosion and Treatment - follow our sensible advice for best results! What you need to know about the dangers of CARBON MONOXIDE How to turn off your water supply without damaging your boilerLocate your mains cold water stoptap. There is one outside, near to the property boundary and one or more inside where the water supply pipe enters the building. The stoptap outside may control more than one property. In a conventional system this will control cold water isolation only. The hot water system will still be full and will require draining down before the water stops. (In a system with a combination boiler, the hot water will also stop if the mains cold water is turned off, so be sure to turn the boiler off so as not to damage the appliance). The hot water (non combi systems) should have a valve on the pipe between the supply cistern (typically a large plastic header tank in the loft) and the bottom of the copper cylinder. Closing this valve will turn off the supply to the cylinder, but remember it will leave both the cistern and the copper cylinder still full of water! The heating water for radiators is generally contained within its own closed system and isolating the cold or hot water supplies would leave the heating unaffected. To isolate the heating first turn the appliance off, then turn off the cold supply feeding the header tank (the ballvalve can be tied up to prevent it filling the system if necessary). The heating can now be drained down. If the system is a combination boiler the system can be drained down once the boiler is switched off. When refilling, it's important to add the correct type and amount of additive to prevent corrosion (see below). It is a good idea to locate your water stoptaps and valves and test regularly to ensure they work. Make sure you know what controls what. We can install new valves that are easy to operate. Valves, which work by the switch of a button or lever valves that are generally more reliable and easier to operate. | TOP | CorrosionOne of the main causes of problems in heating systems is the intake of fresh water. Fresh water contains oxygen which promotes corrosion in ferrous metals, so once the heating system is filled and air driven off, the system needs to be kept full of water. If air is present in the system it can cause the ferrous parts (radiators, pumps, steel and cast iron boilers) to rust. If this process is taking place rapidly because of the presence of free oxygen, rust-red coloured water will be seen at the venting points. If the process is slower because there is less oxygen present, the water will be black, as is the case with many heating systems. Metal waste in a system Another form of corrosion is electrolytic action, caused by dissimilar metals joined together and their different electrical potentials acting like a car battery, (chemically speaking, transferring matter from the more "sacrificial" elements to the more "noble" ones). Where a system contains copper and steel, the steel will be eaten away by this process. Attack of this form, can by very rapid in systems that have not been properly flushed out after installation work. Copper fragments or swarf left over from installation can also become fixed to the insides of steel panel radiators, causing a reaction to take place and eventually eat through the radiator causing pinholes. Such leaks are a frequent cause of installed complaint about radiators but are not a manufacturing problem. They are almost invariably due to poor installation practice. Air and gas in a system As well as causing corrosion, air not removed will block circulation and reduce emitter effectiveness. Gaseous products of electrolytic corrosion, such as methane and hydrogen, create the same effect. Air and gas can be heard passing around the system, the loudest effect usually in the boiler, where the mixture of air and water permits local boiling to take place. Causes of corrosionAll waters will cause a certain amount of corrosion in heating systems but this often does not proceed very far. In many cases however the process does continue and accelerate to the point where pumps, radiators, boilers etc fail. If the heating system is leaking, fresh water is drawn in to replace that which is lost, thus adding fresh air and oxygen. Air can also be brought in if the vent pipe is discharging water into the feed cistern. If the water level is too high, then water can be lost through the overflow on expansion and replaced with fresh water as the system cools. Treatment and preventionChemical treatment is almost always necessary to treat a heating system satisfactory. Flushing with plain water can look impressive as black matter gushes out, but the problem is this does not move water very fast through the radiators which have a larger cross sectional area. Older systems need different treatment to new systems and great care needs to be taken when deciding the course of action to take. We can offer all kinds of chemical treatment suitable for your system, which may be descale, sludge removal, powerflushing etc, The system then requires inhibitors and filters to prevent further rapid corrosion taking place. All the heating systems we install are flushed from new, with filters and inhibitors added accordingly. | TOP | WHAT TO DO IN A GAS EMERGENCYAct quickly and take the following safety steps:
If you think you may be suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning:
National Gas Emergency numbersThese numbers were believed correct at the time of writing, March 2010. For Cylinder supplies, see the gas supplier emergency contact details in the local telephone directory* England, Scotland and Wales:
Isle of Man:
Northern Ireland:
Jersey:
Guernsey:
* For cylinder supplies on caravan parks and hire boats, the site owner and/or boat operator may also have responsibilities. Advice may be obtained from the gas company identified on the cylinder through their emergency contact details. | TOP | Carbon Monoxide poisoningUnsafe gas and oil appliances can produce a highly poisonous gas called carbon monoxide (CO). It can cause death and serious long term health problems such as brain damage.You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but it can kill quickly with no warning.This poisonous gas is released when fuel burning appliances are incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained.An annual safety check will make sure your appliances are safe. This will prevent you being exposed to low levels of CO.What is carbon monoxide?Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous substance that is produced by the incomplete burning of oil, gas and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). This can happen if a gas appliance has been incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained or if flues, chimneys or vents are blocked. You could be inhaling CO without realising it. You can't see, smell or taste it, but at high levels it can kill you in minutes. Even breathing in a small amount can cause loss of consciousness and death. Poorly managed appliances can produce harmful levels of carbon monoxide. So always use an OFTEC or Gas Safe registered engineer. Solid fuels such as coal, wood, can also produce carbon monoxide. What is carbon monoxide poisoning?Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning occurs when you breathe in even small amounts of the gas. You can't see, smell or taste carbon monoxide so you won’t know it is there. You won’t necessarily notice the smell of gas. If you breathe in CO, it gets into your blood stream and prevents your red blood cells from carrying oxygen. Without oxygen the body tissue and cells die. Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health if breathed in over a long period. Paralysis and brain damage can be caused as a result of exposure to CO. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:Being aware of the symptoms of CO poisoning could save your life. Many of the symptoms of carbon monoxide are similar to those of flu, food poisoning, viral infections, or simple tiredness. It is common to mistake the symptoms for something else. Remember the six main symptoms to look out for:
Other signs that you may have CO poisoning:
If you have any of the above symptoms:
How do I know if my gas or oil appliances are leaking carbon monoxide?Your home may show symptoms of carbon monoxide, too. Any one of the following could be a sign that there is a build up of carbon monoxide and you need to have your appliances checked.
Can I get a carbon monoxide alarm?We strongly recommend that you fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm in your home. This will alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home, but this is still no substitute for getting your appliances checked regularly by a qualified gas engineer. A CO alarm looks similar to a smoke alarm and is very easy to fit by following manufacturer’s instructions. We can supply a carbon monoxide alarm for under £30 approved to EN 50291. You can be particularly at risk from CO poisoning when you are asleep as you may not be aware of early CO symptoms until it is too late. Do not use the ‘black spot’ detectors that merely change colour when carbon monoxide is present. These will not make a sound to wake you up if the poisonous gas is present while you are sleeping. To avoid CO poisoning, always have your gas and oil appliances serviced annually. We have been trained and are qualified to carry out gas/oil work to the highest safety standards. J. Coultas & Co Ltd. - providing quality plumbing and heating services that you can depend on throughout North Lincolnshire since 1976.| TOP | |
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