As we wave goodbye to summer and blow the dust off our thermostats and heating controls it’s important not to forget the importance of gas safety and maintaining a healthy boiler. Here are some top tips to consider before you turn the heat up:
Professional Service
Calling a professional heating engineer to check over your boiler, central heating system and ventilation to make sure everything is in order not only prevents unexpected breakdowns but also gives you a peace of mind. Any serious faults with your boiler may lead to a replacement which means it’s important to get your boiler looked at early, keeping your family warm and safe ready for any cold spells.
Gas Checks
We recommend your boiler is serviced annually by a Gas Safe Engineer, making sure they show you their Gas Safe registration before undergoing any work on your boiler. It is also important to make sure you have an audible carbon monoxide alarm fitted in your home and that this is also tested regularly to ensure full working order.
Water Pressure
On a sealed system (one where you top the water pressure up using a filling loop) check that your water pressure is between 1 and 1.5 bar. If your pressure drops below 0.5 bar then the boiler will lockout to a “low pressure” fault. This will stop your boiler from firing up. Making sure your pressure is correct will mean your boiler can be called into action whenever it is needed. If in any doubt our customer care team are always on hand to help or contact a Gas Safe Engineer.
Insulate Condensate Pipes
If your condensate pipe is on an outside wall, then make sure it is insulated. If the temperature has dropped below freezing, then the liquid within the condensate pipe can freeze and cause your boiler to go to a lockout. A simple solution to this is pipe insulation (sometimes called pipe lagging). Pipe Insulation minimises the heat loss, keeping the water in the condensate pipe above freezing. We recommend any condensate pipe work that is run outside should be upgraded to 32mm pipe size. Check out our video for more help.
If you require further assistance please contact our customer service team on 01 6917426 or email [email protected].