On safety measures when using domestic water heating and heating appliances

Emergency reports received during the cold season regularly include information about burnt-out, destroyed private houses, as well as people suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The main reason for boiler explosions is the freezing of the heating system. Water circulation stops in the heating pipes while the fuel is burning, causing the water inside the cast-iron sections of the boiler or pipes to boil. The steam pressure inside the system begins to rise very rapidly. At some point, a critical pressure point will be reached that the metal cannot withstand, and the consequences of destruction will be unpredictable. When a boiler ruptures, a very large volume of steam-water mixture is ejected into the confined space, the pressure inside the room instantly increases, in the best-case scenario, it will end with blown-out windows, and in the worst situation, the building will be destroyed, which can lead to injuries and casualties among the population.

Do not forget about the need to monitor the water level in the boiler and heating system, as a decrease in the water volume in the boiler below the permissible level (water loss) leads to overheating of the boiler's heating surfaces, and when cold water comes into contact with red-hot metal during refilling, it also leads to an uncontrolled increase in pressure, a sudden ejection of steam-water mixture, and boiler destruction, which can have irreversible consequences.

It should also be remembered that products are released during fuel combustion, one of the most dangerous in its effect on the human body is carbon monoxide or CO (carbon oxide).

Carbon monoxide or carbon oxide is one of the main combustion products of almost all known combustible materials; it has neither smell nor color. Carbon oxide is a highly toxic gas; being in a room for 5 minutes, in which the air contains only 0.5% carbon monoxide, is life-threatening! Carbon oxide easily combines with blood hemoglobin. When the air contains 0.04% carbon monoxide, approximately 30% of the blood enters into a chemical compound with carbon oxide. Due to its composition and properties, carbon monoxide is one of the main causes of death in case of improper use of heating appliances and water heaters. Inhaling air containing only 0.1% carbon monoxide leads to fatal poisoning in less than 3 hours. In the absence of draft in the chimney, carbon monoxide formed by the combustion flame enters the room.

It should be remembered that the installation, adjustment, and maintenance of heating boilers must be carried out only by specialized organizations. In doing so, their employees must necessarily conduct training for boiler users and make a note of this in the unit's passport.

Before starting the boiler, the homeowner must ensure that the shut-off devices are open on both pipelines – the supply and return lines. All shut-off devices installed on the heating system must also be opened. Accumulated moisture must be removed from the condensate collector at the base of the chimney. Regularly check the condition of the chimney

The majority of emergencies related to domestic boiler explosions occur at the beginning of the heating season or are caused by a sharp drop in air temperature. The thermometer reading drops below zero, leading to the freezing of pipelines and expansion tanks, and the cessation of water circulation.

Domestic boiler owners must remember!

It is prohibited to use boilers not equipped with safety automation and control and measuring instruments;

It is prohibited to operate faulty boilers (boilers with faulty pressure gauges, safety devices) and to arbitrarily disconnect or dismantle them;

It is prohibited to start up a boiler when the outside air temperature is below freezing if there is no water circulation in the heating system;

It is forbidden to store flammable, lubricating, and wiping materials near the boiler.

Remember that in case of fire, gas odor, or detection of gas appliance malfunctions, you must call the relevant services: Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) service phone number is 101; gas emergency service phone number is 104.