'I'm a British Gas engineer – never store these items near your boiler'

A British Gas engineer has shared the common household items which should never be stored near your boiler.

Nobody wants their boiler on show, so a cupboard to house it - or cleverly built-in disguises - are the norm in most people’s homes. Eventually, the trusty boiler cupboard typically becomes home to all sorts of miscellaneous items and sometimes doubles up as linen storage - but this may not be the wisest move.

Joanna Flowers, a British Gas service and repair engineer, has warned there are a number of items which can have a negative impact on the safety of your boiler. 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.

“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. Hanging clothes or fabrics could accidentally fall onto the boiler which could lead to overheating, creating the perfect conditions for a fire.”

Joanna warned that even if items don’t fall directly onto the boiler, they may still block essential ventilation or airflow, making it harder for the boiler to function efficiently. For safety, the engineer said it’s “best to avoid storing or hanging any clothes near the boiler entirely”.

On how close items can be to the boiler, Joanna said “nothing should come into direct contact with it, and the surrounding area must be kept clear at all times”. This also helps ensure the boiler operates properly and safely.

As all boilers differ and will have manufacturer-specific guidelines, the expert advises reading your boiler’s manual to know the safe clearance distance between the boiler and other items. 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.

Joanna explained: “There should also be at least 600mm 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.”

Joanna recommends “conducting regular checks” on your boiler cupboard, ensuring it’s kept clean and free of clutter. It’s important to check nothing is obstructing vents and there’s ample space around the boiler, which “can make a big difference in terms of safety and performance”.

Joanna added: “The cleaner and more open the space, the better. Always ensure there are no flammable items stored inside the cupboard. A boiler cupboard should do exactly what it’s designed for – safely housing your boiler, without doubling up as a general storage space or airing cupboard.

“However, if storing items inside cannot be avoided, ensure they are heat and moisture-resistant, non-flammable, and kept at a safe distance from the boiler itself in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.”

On TikTok, people are keen to share the way they utilise their boiler cupboards and make the most of the space. One video, shared by @homestyle_bycarly, amassed hundreds of thousands of views for showcasing an inventive method for hiding the boiler from view, while still keeping the safe clearance distance.