Boiler maintenance and you
As we approach the end of the year, the nights get longer, the air chillier and the rain becomes more frequent. At this time of the year, it's easy for us to crave curling up in a nice warm room in front of the TV with a nice cup of tea.
Unfortunately, for many people, the sad discovery is going to be a boiler stubbornly refusing to start up. A broken boiler is going to require a visit from a Gas Safe tradesperson but follow these tips in future to minimise the chance of a broken boiler.
A broken boiler is a huge inconvenience and real pain to deal with. The key to avoiding this situation is regular boiler maintenance. A few helpful hints and tips that will keep your boiler running smoothly and efficiently can keep you out of trouble.
A need to bleed
Regularly bleeding your radiators is a small task which not only helps improve boiler efficiency it also can help to alleviate stress being placed on your boiler.
An annual service
Once a year you should be getting a Gas Safe Engineer to give your boiler a service. This doesn’t have to be a big expense, and costs a lot less than repairs – something we’ve written about here.
A service will check all of the component parts of your boiler to make sure they are in good condition and working properly. We’d suggest you get this done before winter, so that if there are any problems you can have them taken care of before the cold settles in.
Keep the pressure up
After giving the pressure gauge on your boiler a check, you may need to top up the pressure to keep the boiler working at its optimal rate. Topping up the pressure varies from boiler to boiler, so be sure to follow the instructions that came with it.
The importance of insulation
As always, insulation is incredibly important when it comes to making sure your boiler is running as efficiently as possible, which we mentioned in our article about getting the most out of your heating and plumbing here.
Make sure you’ve properly insulated your pipes, and also keep an eye on any external condensate pipes you have – these can freeze over during winter. If your condensate pipe does freeze over you can thaw it out by pouring warm water over it.
Ventilation
Depending on where your boiler is situated it can be easy for it to become surrounded by clutter – especially if it is in a cupboard that’s used for storage as well. You can help maintain your boiler by ensuring there is enough space around it for proper ventilation.
Summer heat
During the warmer periods of spring and summer, lots of homes don’t use their central heating at all but this can sometimes lead to your boiler seizing up through lack of use. Switch your boiler on for brief periods over the course of the summer helps ensure it can cope once the weather cools down.
Safety first
Lastly, while not strictly speaking maintenance, always invest in a carbon monoxide alarm. Should your boiler malfunction in anyway, this alarm can quite literally be a lifesaver.
