Is gas boiler awareness increasing?

The number of people in the UK dying from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning have fallen in the last decade, it has been revealed - which may point to a rise in awareness of gas boiler safety.

According to a report by the Corgi Trust, the last ten years have seen carbon monoxide fatalities fall from a high of 24 to a low of nine, with the overall decline being reported at over 50 per cent.

The report looked at gas appliances including boilers, room heaters and ovens.

Gas safety first

According to Corgi, the research suggests that Britons are now more aware of the potential danger such household appliances could be posing.

Nigel Dumbrell, manager of the trust, stated: "The overall drop in fatalities is really positive news and illustrates how government regulation, awareness campaigns and the introduction of safer appliances in the home have made a difference over the past 12 years."

He added: "Every life lost to CO is avoidable."

One way of reducing this risk further still may be to invest in a new gas boiler.

The report revealed that gas boilers which are over 16 years old are more than 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a carbon monoxide incident than newer models, which are safer.

Reducing risk and bills

A further benefit of purchasing a new gas boiler may be the opportunity to achieve cheaper gas bills.

Indeed, an engineer from Gas Safe^TM Register - the body under which all qualified engineers must be registered in order to legally carry out such work - may be able to advise the most energy efficient gas boiler to purchase in order to reduce heating bills.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the most efficient gas boiler currently on the domestic market is the condensing boiler.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes symptoms such as headaches, nausea, sickness, fainting, loss of consciousness and death, which may prompt households to invest in a carbon monoxide alarm.