British Gas engineer Joanna Flowers warns against storing flammable items near your boiler for safety reasons. Hanging clothes or fabrics could accidentally fall onto the boiler, leading to overheating and fire risks. Ensure proper ventilation and clearance as per manufacturer guidelines for safe operation.
As a cold snap grips the UK, your boiler may be under more strain, tackling snow, ice, and frost. For households with limited storage, the boiler cupboard often serves as an extra space, but British Gas Service and Repair Engineer Joanna Flowers warns against storing certain items nearby for safety reasons. She said: 'First and foremost, flammable items such as clothes, linens, paint tins or even cleaning supplies should never be stored in close proximity to a boiler.
' She highlighted the fire dangers, adding: 'These items can pose a fire risk, especially in the enclosed space of a boiler cupboard where temperatures can fluctuate. 'One specific danger to be aware of is hanging clothes over or around the boiler. It may seem convenient to drape jackets, coats, or even towels over the boiler or on the back of its cupboard door, but this poses a serious fire risk.' She explained: 'Hanging clothes or fabrics could accidentally fall onto the boiler which could lead to overheating, creating the perfect conditions for a fire.' Joanna further stressed that blocking ventilation could impair boiler efficiency, adding: 'For safety reasons, it's best to avoid storing or hanging any clothes near the boiler entirely.' Joanna offered additional guidance on keeping boilers in top condition, emphasising the importance of clearance. She said: 'In terms of proximity to other items, each boiler model will have manufacturer-specific guidelines. These can be found in your boiler's product manual. 'Most boilers require at least 50mm of clearance between the boiler itself and the walls of the cupboard to ensure safe operation and proper ventilation. There should also be at least 600 mm of clear space in front of the boiler to allow for proper access by technicians during maintenance. 'For storing other items nearby within the cupboard, a general rule of thumb is to keep these at least 600mm away from the boiler itself.
Boiler Safety Fire Hazards Flammable Items Ventilation Clearance
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