Summer is the one season where most households turn their boilers off and forget about them until winter, which the majority of the time there is no problem with doing so. But sometimes faults can occur and go unnoticed because our boilers are the last thing we are thinking about. From our experience we recommend keeping an eye on your boiler as a fault that goes unchecked could be costly, so it’s best to catch these things as soon as you can.
Summer is also the perfect time to sort any boiler issues out so that you are fully prepared ahead of the cold winter months. With boilers it’s all about regular checks, just like with our own health, preventative care is always best.
Ann Williams is one of our Customer Service Administrators and perfectly placed to help with any enquiries our customers may have. Here Ann shares her top tips on keeping your boiler maintained over the summer months:
“If your boiler has been off for a while then it makes sense to turn it on. Our tip would be to choose a good British day (which we have had quite a few of recently) when the temperature is a bit cooler to do this.
I recommend turning your boiler on for an hour or so to make sure your heating warms up and everything comes on. By doing this you are making sure that your heating, radiators and thermostat are all still in working order.
And if for any reason the boiler seems out of sorts here are a few things to consider:
New, irregular noises are not a good sign: If your boiler is making a banging or dripping sound there is likely to be air in the system and can be fixed by bleeding the radiators. If however, your boiler continues to make noises then it’s best to get it looked at sooner rather than later as a part within the boiler could be on its way out i.e. a circulating pump which can be expensive.
Your pilot light is extinguishing or boiler locking out; this could be a sign of a few things. There could be an issue with the gas supply, a blockage, or not enough pressure in the system. Ignoring this problem will lead to no hot water or heating at some point so it is best to get it checked.
Turning on and off: this points towards several potential problems, from low pressure, electrical faults, poor circulation, to thermostat issues. This can lead to an inefficient boiler, increasing energy bills, and worst no hot water and heating if a new part is required so best to get it checked out.
Radiator Faults: bleeding radiators allows trapped air to be released and you’re system to operate more efficiently. If you’re radiators have air in them, we recommend you check there is enough pressure in the system before and after you bleed the radiators – this should be between 1 and 1.5bar on the pressure gauge on the front of you’re boiler – but bear in mind, re-pressuring isn’t always required as not all systems are pressurised i.e. you have tanks in you’re loft that feed your system. If you continue to get air in radiators and/or lose pressure in the system you may require a visit as you may have a leak, or possibly have a problem with sludge. We offer a Radiator Power Flush for up to 12 radiators, which can help kick start your system and ensure your radiators are working efficiently.
If you are experiencing any one of these issues, don’t delay and call us today.”
Remember that It is often a condition of your boiler manufacturers guarantee that you are required to have an annual service to maintain its validity, keeping you covered should you encounter any problems during colder spells. So why not get a head start and get yours now to be ready for winter and be sure your boiler is running as it should.
Don’t forget if you’re a Heat:Plan customer and have any queries you can give us a call. We are now booking boiler services for September and sometimes have cancellations so give us a call if you need a hand.
