Sep 8, 2014 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers, How to's
Learn the basic steps on how to install a boiler thermostat here. Your boiler is one of the most important appliances in your home, and it is hard to find yourself in the middle of a boiler crisis especially during the cold months. The thermostat is a relatively small device that helps control the temperature in your home to make you comfortable in the hear of the summer and the cold months of winter. Learning the basics of how a thermostat works can help you better understand your boiler when it breaks down. Often, when there is a need for boiler repair, the thermostat is to blame. Read the simple steps below on how to install a boiler thermostat. Remember that these are ideal guidelines only. If you do not have any background or experience in this type of work, or if you are not completely confident you can finish the job accurately, seek the help of a professional gas safe registered engineer. How to install a boiler thermostat Here are some simple tips on how to install a boiler thermostat: Run the thermostat. Because the thermostat reads the ambient air temperature, it is best to place it in a large open room or a common area in the home like your hallway. Map the wire back to the boiler. You can use a wire snake to get the wire through the walls of your home and into the attic or basement and down the boiler room wall. Install the thermostat. Mount the back plate of the thermostat to your wall. Make sure that it is mounted...Aug 30, 2014 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers
Your boiler is not switching on? Here’s more information about this boiler problem. While your boiler is made to last for a very long time, it is bound to encounter mechanical issues along the way. A boiler breakdown does not mean the end of the world though. Many boiler problems can be easily fixed. If your boiler is not switching on, it is most likely caused by one of these things below. Boiler Is Not Switching On Here are the most likely reasons why your boiler is not switching on: Thermostat. The thermostat must be set to the heat position. The set point must also be below the temperature in the room. The thermostat settings can accidentally change. Set it a few degrees below the room temperature and wait for the system to start. If the heating system does not work, check the next item on our list. Electrical Problem. Most new boiler models use an electric ignition, a safety blower that is used to vent combustible gas, and circulation pumps. All of these components are powered by electricity. Check to make sure that the circuit breakers are not tripped. If they are, you can reset them. Also make sure that the service safety switch is on. Gas Supply. If the first two items are working okay, and your boiler is still not switching on, check your boiler’s gas supply and make sure there is sufficient gas going into the boiler. The shut off valve must be open. Faulty Component. Finally, if you boiler is not switching on still, the likely cause is a faulty component. Boiler parts...Aug 8, 2014 | Boiler Repairs, Boiler Settings, Boilers, How to's
Want to learn how to calibrate a thermostat? We have outlined a few guidelines for you. Your boiler thermostat can lose calibration after some time. This can come as a result of a number of different things like dirt or accidental bumping. Loss of calibration will affect the thermostat temperature, moving it slightly away from the correct room temperature. As a result, a room that reads 70 degrees might be read by that thermostat at 73 degrees, or too low at 67 degrees. A thermostat reading that’s too high can increase your energy bill by about 10 percent, and a reading that is too low will make the room feel cold even with the heater running. If your boiler is unnecessarily running more than it should, it is wasting energy and you are wasting money. This can be corrected through a simple solution: calibrating the thermostat. Even if you are not a professional engineer, you can learn how to calibrate a thermostat so that you can do it yourself. We have outlined a few simple steps for you. How To Calibrate A Thermostat Learn how to calibrate a thermostat following these easy steps. Find out what type of thermostat you have. There are two types of thermostats: one contains magnetic contacts and a calibration screw, and the other employs a mercury switch. Clear the area. Clear the area around the thermostat. Check for things that might be interfering with your thermostat’s reading. A candle may be too close or there may be a cold draft from a window close to the thermostat. Check the thermostat temperature. Turn...Aug 4, 2014 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers
Need help with your boiler thermostat? Here’s some information you may find useful. Boiler Thermostat A thermostat is the medium that bridges communication between the users in a home and the heating or cooling system in the house. It measures and controls the air temperature of a particular space and can set the temperature in that room to whatever you like. It is a sensitive tool that can respond even to the smallest change in temperature. While it is an important device in your home, homeowners often overlook the value of a boiler thermostat. When a boiler is not working properly, the homeowner automatically thinks that the boiler is broken when in fact, the problem could be simply be the thermostat. A faulty thermostat can raise your energy bills. One company that sells thermostats has shown that turning it down by just one degree can reduce your energy costs by 10%, helping you save about £65 annually. Here are some of the common boiler thermostat and how to fix them: Problem: No Heat Possible cause: no power to Fix: reset circuit the breaker or change the fuse Possible cause: dirty thermostat Fix: clean it Possible cause: dead batteries, if applicable Fix: replace the batteries Possible cause: faulty thermostat Fix: replace the thermostat Temperature Does Not Reach or Exceeds Setting Possible cause: thermostat is not leveled properly Fix: realign the thermostat Possible cause: anticipator not set correctly Fix: adjust the anticipator Possible cause: thermostat not calibrated Fix: recalibrate thermostat Possible cause: incorrect range stio Fix: replace thermostat or call engineer Heater repeatedly turns on and off Possible cause:...Jul 9, 2014 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers, How to's
Want to learn how to bleed a radiator? We have a guide here for you. Boilers work only if there is minimal air in the system. Air or gas in your boiler system will prevent how water from fully heating the radiators. It can cause the radiator to feel cold at the top but warm at the bottom. This will prevent your boiler from working efficiently, and can become very inconvenient, especially during the cold months. Bleeding the radiators means opening a small valve called the radiator bleed valve. This will remove the air trapped inside. It is a fairly easy job that you can do on your own. Learn how to bleed a radiator below. How To Bleed A Radiator Here is a step by step guide on how to bleed a radiator: Turn the heating system on and find out which radiator(s) need bleeding. Turn on your boilers and let all the radiators come on. When all the radiators are hot, check each one to see if all parts of each radiator is warming up. BE CAREFUL. The radiators can be VERY hot. If the radiator has a cool spot, usually towards the top part, there could be air trapped inside. Air is usually trapped in the radiators in the highest part of the house. Turn off the central heating. Turn off your heating from the main controls to prevent more air from entering. This will also allow the radiators to cool so that you don’t burn yourself. Find the bleed valve. The bleed valve is usually located at the top of the radiator on...Jul 8, 2014 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers
Are your boiler’s radiators not heating? There could be several things that might be causing this. Radiators Not Heating Depending on which radiator (s) is not working, it could be caused by a pump failure, or failure of the motor in the motorised valve. It could also be caused by a broken boiler thermostat or timer, or even airpockets in the system. Here’s what you should do if: Boiler is hot, but radiators are cool: The problem here could be the pipework. Overtime, pipes and radiators corrode due to water inside them. This can leave sludge deposits in certain parts of the system, preventing the free flow of hot water to the radiators. Chemically cleaning or flushing the system will solve this issue. A defective pump could also be causing the problem. Check the pump, located near or inside the boiler, if it is running. If it is not working,try freeing anything jammed inside it by lightly tapping it with a heavy object such as a hammer. You can also remove the cover (the power must be off), and check for a large screw at the center of the pump housing. If the large screw has been removed, you should see a second screw underneath. Turn the screw to release any minor jams in the pump. If you feel that the screw is moving freely, reassemble the pump and try again. There could also be air in the system that is causing trouble. Airlocks can be fixed by bleeding the radiators. If bleeding does not fix the problem, there may be a blockage in the pump. It will...