Aug 4, 2015 | Boiler Service, Boilers, How to's, Tips & Tricks
Knowing how to take care of your boiler properly can benefit you in more ways than one. Boiler maintenance is important to prolong the life of your boiler. Getting a regular annual boiler service will help ensure that your boiler is in perfect working condition when you need it during the cold months. It also helps keep the efficiency of your boiler high, which in turn can help you save energy and money. Also, a boiler that is properly cared for is less likely to need frequent boiler repairs. (Read more about what to expect during a service, and its benefits.) However, there are things that you can do on a daily or regular basis to take care of your boiler and help ensure it is operating well. Here’s how to take care of your boiler properly: Do not cover your boiler. Keep the air vents open, as well as ventilation grilles, air bricks and outside flues. NEVER attempt to open the boiler cover. Only a trained and qualified gas safe registered engineer should do this. Schedule a repair if something is not working right. Use a damp cloth to wipe your boiler clean, then dry. Use petroleum jelly to remove scratches on the boiler’s body. Rub a small amount on the area where the scratch is, wipe the petroleum jelly off and then buff it using dry cloth to shine. During hot months, run your heating system once a month for about 15 minutes. This will help keep your boiler running efficiently, and avoid getting clogged. This way, the moving parts are in order for when you need your...Jul 28, 2015 | Boiler Change, Boiler Installation, Boiler Repairs, Boiler Service, Boiler Settings, Boilers
You have probably found yourself in a situation – more than once – where you need boiler help. And if this happened during the cold months, the situation is probably dire as you need heating and hot water as soon as possible. (Read more about what to do if your boiler has no hot water or no heat) Where to get proper boiler help Whether you need a boiler repair or a boiler service, it is important that you only get a qualified engineer to look at your boiler. (Learn about what’s included in a boiler checklist) This also includes other works such as boiler installation. A qualified engineer means a gas safe registered engineer who is trained and certified using government regulated standards. You can check if your engineer is gas safe registered using our tips here. By hiring only trained and qualified engineers, you can assure yourself that the repairs and services are properly carried out, and you and your family are not at risking your health or safety. What you can do Most common boiler problems are caused by small glitches that you can fix yourself. Some common issues include: noisy boiler leaking low pressure frozen condensate pipe cold spots in the radiator pilot light problems Before calling for boiler help, you can save some money from the repair costs by checking a few things yourself. Power supply – Always check the power supply to make sure that your boiler is plugged in. As silly as this may sound, this is an easily overlooked issue that certainly does not need an engineer to fix. Remember that...Jul 24, 2015 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers, How to's
A boiler that has no heat but is producing hot water can cause a lot of frustration, especially if it happens during the winter months. Both the ideas of having a central heating that is not working and that you have no hot water are not appealing. Your initial reaction is probably to panic as you think about the worst case scenarios. Will you have no heat for the entire week? Or maybe you’ll need to do a boiler replacement? Relax. While you might need to get a boiler repair scheduled, you can also take a few steps to see if you can get your boiler running again. No Heat If your boiler is not keeping your home warm, try the following: Check the thermostat. It is easy to overlook the temperature set on your thermostat. Sometimes, the settings may have been altered during cleaning or dusting. Rule this out by making sure the temperature is set correctly. Set the temperature above the current room temperature and make sure that the setting is set to Heat or Auto. You can also try to get the boiler to work by placing the thermostat to the highest setting. Check the power source. This is another thing that is commonly missed and overlooked. Remember that even if your boiler runs on gas or oil, it is still connected to an electricity source to run. Make sure that the boiler is plugged in properly and that the breaker is not tripped. Check the fuel source. Remember to also check your gas connection and make sure it is on and you have gas supply. Check the...Jul 17, 2015 | Boiler Settings, Boilers, How to's, Tips & Tricks
Using your combi boiler with proper care will keep your home heated and help you save energy. Here are some tips on using your combi boiler. The heating controls that you see on your combi boiler will let your control the temperature in your home and keep it at a comfortable level. They will also allow you to set schedules when your heating system will turn on and off, as your family’s needs require. By setting the controls that your have correctly, you can save money and energy. Modes – The modes in your boiler will allow you to set the machine for: hot water – you can select this mode during hot months, when you do not need central heating in your home hot water and heating – this is best during the cold months off – you can turn the boiler off if you do not need either hot water or central heating Radiator temperature – Some boiler models feature an ‘E’ setting, which means ‘economy’. You will usually see this about three quarters of the way around the dial. Using the economy setting will help your boiler run more efficiently, helping you save money. When winter comes in, you may need to change the setting to maximum to keep your home temperature comfortable. Thermostat – Your thermostat can control the temperature either in a single room, or a more centralized one for, say, the first floor of the home. Typically, 18 – 21°C is sufficient to keep you and your family warm. By simply turning the temperature down by 1°C, you can save around 10% on your gas bill. Timer...Jul 10, 2015 | Boiler Change, Boiler Installation, Boilers, How to's, New Home, Tips & Tricks
Are you wondering if choosing a combi boiler is a good decision? Here are some helpful information for you. Combi Boilers The combi boiler is now the most popular boiler choice for homeowners in the UK. Its main feature is that it provides on- demand domestic heating and hot water. It also does not include a cylinder, unlike the convention boiler. Hence, they are not bulky and storage is easier. (Read more: All About Combi Boilers) Is choosing a combi boiler a good decision? Consider that there are many benefits to investing in a combi boiler. For one, the compact size works great if you have limited space in your home. Most combi boilers can fit into kitchen and storage cupboards. Typically, they also come with minimal piping. If you need to get a new one installed, there work and mess. The water that your combi boiler uses feeds directly from the mains. As such, hot water is always available on demand, and the water pressure will not drop even after long periods of use. It is important to note some disadvantages, though, before choosing a combi boiler. If your home has more than one bathroom, you may experience a drop in water pressure if two or more appliances are using the boiler at the same time. To avoid straining your combi boiler and possibly needing repairs, avoid using multiple appliances at the same time. Also, consider that bigger combi boilers are typically better at fighting decreased pressure because of strain to the system. Choosing a combi boiler: Which one should you get? There is a wide variety of sizes, styles, models and...Jul 6, 2015 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers
Any combi boiler repair must be done by a gas safe registered engineer. In the UK, about 50% of boiler installations are combi boilers. This is mainly because combi boilers are typically more efficient and convenient than the more traditional water tank. However, they are also more complicated, and can be a real pain when they breakdown. A number of minor problems that you will encounter can be fixed by the regular DIY- er. A DIY boiler fix is never recommended for a major combi boiler repair. Here are some of the common boiler problems you may encounter: boiler leaking water pilot light keeps turning off boiler loosing pressure boiler pressure too high boiler not heating water gurgling in boiler noisy boiler radiators not heating central heating not working no hot water Here are some basic tips when doing a combi boiler repair yourself: Always start with the electric and gas supply. Make sure that the boiler is plugged in and connected properly. As silly as this may sound, this step is also often overlooked. Start by checking the power supplies, and you might save yourself lots of time and money. Check the thermostat. The temperature setting may have been changed or altered. Check the pressure gauge and make sure it is set correctly. You can learn how to increase the boiler pressure using our guidelines. Learn the easy steps on how to bleed the radiators. In case of a frozen condensate pipe, carefully thaw the pipe using proper precautions. Learn how here. Remember to always read the owner’s manual before starting any combi boiler repair. Different manufacturers will have different...