Boiler Glossary

Be familiar with boiler terminology using our boiler glossary.   Boiler Glossary Air purge – The removal of undesired matter by replacement with air. Air vent – A valved opening in the top of the highest drum of a boiler or pressure vessel for venting air. Bleed valve – This is an air release valve used to release air from a central heating system. Boiler – A closed vessel in which water is heated, steam is generated, steam is superheated, or any combination thereof, under pressure or vacuum by the application of heat from combustible fuels, electricity, or nuclear energy.  Burner – A device which combines fuel and air in proper proportions for combustion and which enables the fuel-air mixture to burn stably to give a specified flame size and shape. Casing – A covering of sheets of metal or other material such as fire resistant composition board used to enclose all or a portion of a steam-generating unit. Circulation Pipes – This is the main water flow to and from the central heating boiler for the radiator circuit.  Circulation Pump  – A device used to pump water to the central heating system.  Combination Boiler – A combi boiler is a highly efficient water heater and central heating boiler combined in a single unit. Combustion Chamber – The area within the boiler where the fuel is burnt. Condensing Boiler – A condensing boiler is a central heating boiler that has improved efficiency over a standard boiler. Condensing boilers achieve their extra efficiency by extracting extra energy from the hot exhaust gases produced by the boiler. A condensing boiler captures much more usable heat from its fuel than a non-condensing boiler. Conventional Boiler...

How to Power Flush

Learn the basics of how to power flush and the benefits of doing one to your boiler.   Power flushing is a cleaning process for your boiler or central heating system. Doing a power flush can eliminate build up of sludge and scale that cause your system to work inefficiently. When done correctly, a power flush will only take 6 hours to complete. A larger heating systems or those that have more build up may take longer to work on. But what happens during the process? Instead of asking your engineer how to power flush, we’ve outlined the process for you below.   How to Power Flush A power flushing machine is used for this process. The machine has a pump that is used to connect to the system. Your engineer will take a water sample from the system to determine the severity of corrosion and scale. Fresh water and cleaning chemicals will be used to clean out the pipes. The machine makes a powerful flow that is combined with the instant flow reverse device to dislodge and move the deposits and corrosion that usually resist traditional cleaning methods. Water is flushed into and released out of the system several times. In the initial flush, water is used to remove large build ups within the system. After the initial cleanse, your engineer will add a chemical cleaner to further remove corrosion and other deposits. After this, fresh water is pushed through the system again to push out contaminated water. Radiators are also pumped and flushed individually. Once the process is done,  the system is filled once again with water...

Power Flushing

Are you thinking about getting power flushing for your boiler? Learn more about it here.   What is Power Flushing? Over time, corrosion can build up in your boiler system. This creates a sludge that greatly affects the efficiency of your boiler. In sever cases, power flushing is the only option available to effectively solve the problem. A “power flush” is a process of cleansing your boiler. The process aims to remove build up of sludge, rust and other debris in your central heating system. Doing this one- off deep clean make sure that your radiators are heating properly and you no longer have to worry about cold spots. A properly maintained boiler increases its life and helps keep your energy bills low. In the long run, you also have lower risks of a boiler breakdown.   Do you need a Power Flush? Some customers are not sure whether they actually need a power flush, and are afraid that they are paying extra for something unnecessary. There are several signs that can help you decide if you should avail of a power flush. These include: cold areas on radiators excessively noisy boiler or heating system pump discoloration in the water when you bleed the radiators the boiler takes a long time to heat up tap water gets cloudy If you are planning to connect a new boiler replacement to your old heating system, it is advisable that you do power flushing. Because most new boilers are condensing boilers, contaminants present in the current heating system can damage the internal pipes of the new boiler quickly. Power flushing will remove...

Broken Boiler

Do you have a broken boiler? Don’t fret!   A broken boiler can truly cause much distress and inconvenience. Because boilers are unused for months, it is not unusual for them to conk out when you need them again. The best way to avoid having to deal with a broken boiler is getting an annual boiler service done. However, if you find yourself in the middle of a boiler problem, you can do some of these checks on your own to see if you can get your boiler working again before calling an engineer.   Before you start troubleshooting your broken boiler, check if you smell gas. If your suspect a gas leak, do not attempt to the repair on your own. Call RJ Gas right away. Open the windows near your boiler and exit your home. To find out if your gas supply is on, check other gas appliances in your home.You can also ask a neighbour if their gas supply is working. If the gas stopcock is on but no gas is coming through, you have a gas supply problem and need to call your gas supplier. Is your power supply working? Check your electrical source and make sure your boiler is plugged in. Contact your electricity provider if you have no power. Is the pilot light on? The pilot light can go our for a variety of reasons, but usually does not need an engineer to fix it. You can try igniting the pilot light yourself. You can find the instructions in the user’s manual or inside the boiler’s door. If it won’t ignite, you probably have a...

Boiler Repairs London

Do you need boiler repairs London? RJ Gas is a boiler expert that has experienced engineers in your area.   The need for boiler repairs London -wide definitely goes up during the cold months of the year. If you are one of these customers needing repair services, we know you have already been inconvenienced by the experience. But before you dial RJ Gas, there are 5 things that you can check first to see if you can get your boiler to run again.   Boiler Repairs London Here are 5 things to check before scheduling any boiler repairs London -wide: Boiler Power Supply The first thing you should check is the electric supply to your boiler. Make sure it is on. While this may sound silly, this is the most obvious cause of a “broken boiler” that is easily overlooked. Check your power fuse or see if the main circuit breaker board has tripped. Reset Button Newer boiler models now feauture built in safety devices. Resetting the boiler is the easiest way to get it working again. You can usually find the reset button in front of the boiler. It usually looks like a dial that needs to be reset to zero. Check you owner’s manual to find where the reset button is on your boiler. Heating Controls If you think your boiler’s heating programmers, timers and thermostats are quite complicated, read your owner’s manual first. You will find the right settings and proper usage of the controls there. Check that they are set correctly, including those that work by sending signals remotely. Gas Supply A faulty gas supply...

Boiler Not Working

Learn how you can do some DIY work if you have a boiler not working.   There could be several reasons as to why your boiler is not working. Some of these you can actually fix on your own. While they are pretty simple to do, you should not try the job if you are not confident that you can do it or if you feel you lack the knowledge or experience. If this is the case, it is best that you call an experienced gas safe registered engineer to do your boiler repair.   Boiler Not Working Here are some simple tips if you have a boiler not working. Check the supply of gas, electrical and water to your boiler and make sure they are turned on. Make sure the thermostat and the clock timer are on. The pressure gauge must be set at around one bar. If your boiler has a permanent light, make sure it has not gone out. Try setting your heating to its maximum for a quick period to see if it would work. Check the clock programmers as they may need adjusting. If your power was cut or turned off recently, the heating clock programmer may have reset to the factory settings. Try resetting the boiler using the customer- operated reset button. If your boiler does not have one, try turning the electrical supply to your boiler off and then back on to reset. Check if you have frozen pipes. Your condensate pipes can freeze during very cold whether and you will need to thaw them. If you have an open vented system...