Can my boiler explode?

It’s common knowledge that boilers do literally consist of small, contained fires that heat water. While older boilers might have been prone to explosions and similarly dramatic failures, modern boilers are packed full of safety features that should make explosions almost impossible. 

That being said, boilers still need to be looked after properly to ensure their ongoing safety – the controls that manage dangers such as overheating and high pressure aren’t magic, and they can wear out. Let’s take a look at some of those safety features, and what you can do to minimise an accident.

The importance of maintenance

While there are a number of safety features, which we list below, none of these means that you can simply leave the boiler alone and hope for the best. You still need to get your boiler serviced at regular intervals by a qualified boiler technician from somewhere like Able Plumbing, who can ensure that everything is functioning as intended.

It’s generally recommended that you get your boiler serviced at annual intervals. However, if you’re a landlord, then you’re required by law to have the boiler serviced at these intervals at the very least. Failure to do so could result in legal action, especially in the case that it resulted in an incident.

We had the chance to speak with the team at SD Plumbing and Heating, a local heating specialist based in Edinburgh, who recommend getting your boiler serviced at annual intervals as a minimum. For landlords, this is not just good practice but a legal requirement. Failure to comply could result in legal action, particularly if a boiler-related incident occurs on the property.

Temperature controls

Most boilers have certain components that enable the ongoing measurement of internal temperatures. If those temperatures get too high, the boiler can shut itself off, to ensure that any gas pipes aren’t inadvertently heated to dangerous temperatures. It’s important that these monitoring features and shut-off controls are checked at regular intervals by an expert, to ensure that they’re still functioning properly.

High-pressure releases

Flammable gas isn’t the only thing that you need to worry about in boilers when it comes to explosions – you also need to think about steam. If the pressure builds up too high, the boiler can literally explode, which is why modern boilers have pressure-release valves. These valves need checking up annually, to ensure that they’re still able to operate as intended, and can release pressure buildups to avoid explosions.

Carbon monoxide alarms

While this one isn’t related to explosions, it needs to be mentioned, as it’s statistically the most dangerous thing about boilers. If your boiler isn’t burning properly, it can emit an odourless gas, carbon monoxide, that can build up in concentration until it kills you. Carbon monoxide alarms are an inexpensive and effective way of dealing with this risk, but it’s still important to get your boiler serviced to ensure that it’s burning properly.

While it is technically possible for boilers to explode, there are a number of mechanisms (some of which are listed above) that are specially designed to minimise the risk of explosions. For these safety features to work properly, you need to make sure that you get your boiler regularly serviced. It’s also important that you keep your carbon monoxide alarm fully functioning, changing the batteries at regular intervals – it takes 5 seconds, and it could literally save your life.