Why Do-It-Yourself isn’t worth it where gas is involved
15th January 2023
New boiler installations are expensive. Fact. Not only is prolonging the life of your home boiler a cost-effective measure, it’s also more environmentally friendly than replacing it with a new piece of kit every few years.
By helping your boiler live for longer, you’re doing the best by the planet, as cared-for appliances are more efficient. Plus, having complex work carried out at home is always a bit of a pain, isn’t it? So full-scale replacements are best avoided until absolutely necessary.
So here you go: eight ways to make sure that your home boiler keeps firing into old age.
1 Regular maintenance
An annual boiler service is absolutely fundamental to the health of your heating system. Aside from helping your boiler to live longer, the service is actually a vital health and safety measure that your home needs, every year.
A qualified GasSafe-registered engineer will check that all the various components are working efficiently and detect any issues, before they become major problems. Services can be an unexpected cost, if you’ve got out of the habit of scheduling them. If part of your New Year’s resolution is to not leave it too late next year, you could always look at our Sensible Boiler Cover plan options. With timely reminders and a free service every year, what’s not to love?!
2 Monitor your boiler’s water pressure
Keep an eye on your boiler’s water pressure. Your boiler’s display clock will show you if it drops too low, or rises too high. Either scenario can put stress on the system and result in faults or breakdowns. If you’re not sure how to check the pressure, consult your boiler manual. Alternatively, contact us for advice.
3 Bleed your radiators
Radiators are a common source of wasted energy and poorly functioning ones can mean your boiler has to work harder. Air can become trapped in your heating system, reducing its heat output. Regularly bleeding your radiators to release any trapped air maintains even heat distribution and means your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard to heat up a room.
4 Install a magnetic filter
To give your boiler the star treatment, you could consider installing a magnetic filter. These filters help to capture and remove sludge and debris from the circulating water inside your heating system, improving the efficiency and longevity of your boiler.
5 Upgrade your controls and thermostats
Investing in modern heating controls, such as programmable thermostats or smart heating systems will improve temperature regulation throughout your home, reducing the strain on your boiler. Stress really is a boiler killer.
6 Insulate external pipes
This is really important during winter. Ensuring that all pipes connected to your boiler are free from risk of freezing is an important step to prolonging the life of your heating system, especially during the colder months.
7 Make sure you’ve got the right boiler
This sounds like an obvious one but if you’re not a boiler expert, it can be hard to know. Making sure that you have the appropriate sized boiler for your home is crucial. An oversized or undersized boiler can lead to inefficiency and a shorter lifespan.
8 Address any issues fast
If you notice any unusual noises, changes in heating performance, or signs of malfunction, you need to get your boiler checked out. Not only can this prevent minor problems from escalating but it could save your life. Boilers normally function using gas as a fuel source, which is highly dangerous in faulty appliances. If you’re at all worried about the condition of your boiler, you can speak to our team today on 0116 366 5664.
It’s an old adage but a true one. If you take care of your boiler, it’ll take care of you. Following these basic steps will ensure your boiler continues to provide efficient and dependable service for years to come.
Need help with your boiler or heating system? Contact us today
