Sep 28, 2015 | Boiler Service, Boilers, How to's, Tips & Tricks
More organizations and local groups are making the effort to raise awareness on the importance of doing a regular central heating service. The dangers of unchecked gas appliances cannot be underestimated. There are also steps that a homeowner can make to maintain their central heating and help ensure it is running safely and efficiently. A central heating system typically includes a boiler, pipes, radiators and controls, and sometimes, a hot water storage cylinder or separate pump. Here are some central heating service tips: Bleed your radiators regularly. Bleeding the radiators will remove pockets of trapped air that are taking up space that hot water should be using. This results to cold spots in the radiators that will cause it to not heat properly. Learn how to do this here. Regularly check the pipes. The pipes take a lot of strain from the pressure. Make it a habit to check the pipes and look for leaks. Be aware of the sound coming from the system. Clanking sounds can be a sign that the boiler is kettling, which means that there might be limescale build up in the heat exchangers causing the water to become too hot. Read more about what to do when you have a noisy boiler. Check the water tank. Water tanks that are tucked away in basements or lofts and it is not uncommon for them to be forgotten. It is important that you check your water tank every few months for leaks, cracks or other irregularities. Prevent the pipes from freezing during cold weather. Extremely low temperatures can cause bursting or leaking of central heating pipes. You can insulate the...Aug 19, 2015 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers, How to's, Tips & Tricks
If you know how to recognize boiler problems, you can identify them early and possibly avoid more costly repairs. Your heating system is one of the most important appliances in your home. It is also one of the most expensive to buy and to repair. Hence, you want it to last a long time. And it will – provided that you use it with care and maintain it properly. Aside from getting an annual boiler service done, you can help prolong the life of your boiler by learning how to recognize boiler problems. If you know how to tell if your boiler is not functioning properly, you can provide a quick fix right away or call an engineer sooner rather than later. Letting a broken boiler sit without getting fixed and ignoring that it needs repair will only cost you more. That small problem will only get bigger and your boiler will perform poorly and slowly deteriorate. What may have been a need for a little tuning on the thermostat or pressure gauge can turn into a need to replace parts or even the entire boiler if the problem is ignored. How to recognize boiler problems Here are five signs that your boiler is not working okay: There is no heat or no hot water (or both) – Perhaps this is the biggest sign that your boiler is having a problem, and it’s hard to miss. If your boiler is not heating, it does not always mean that is broken. This may be solved by doing simple DIY troubleshooting, such as simply checking your thermostat. The flame in the...Aug 15, 2015 | Boiler Repairs, Boilers, How to's, New Home
Listening to your gas boiler banging can be annoying – and concerning. And you have every right to be both annoyed and concerned. A noisy boiler should be addressed right away. Ignoring this common problem may lead to more costly repairs in the future. Gas Boiler Banging – What’s the culprit? The most common culprit here is scale build up. Water contains minerals, and over time, those minerals accumulate at the bottom of the boiler tank, causing hot spots. The water boils rapidly and sends bubbles up the tank. The bubbles then dissipate violently when they reach the top of the tank, producing loud, banging noises. A noisy boiler is also known as “kettling”, as the limescale blocks water flow and causes the water to boil, steam and expand, just like boiling water in a kettle. This is not something that you should fix on your own. Only a gas safe registered engineer should handle the problem. Gas Boiler Banging – Other causes There are a few other things that may be causing boiler noise. Water temperature: If the water gets too hot, it can cause similar rapid boiling in the tank, sending bubbles of water to the top of the tank. Lowering the boiler thermostat can solve this problem, although this will also make your home less warm. Check if your thermostat is defective and needs replacing. You can learn how to calibrate a thermostat too. Low pressure: If the boiler pressure is too low, the boiler will not get enough water supply. With not enough water supply, the heat will not dissipate fast enough and will cause the water to boil. You...Aug 10, 2015 | Boiler Installation, Boilers, How to's, New Home, Tips & Tricks
Learning a few tips on how to choose the best boiler for your home can help you make a wiser decision that will be worth your money. Here are some helpful information from us. Perhaps you have already read somewhere that 55% of your energy bill in one year comes from your heating system. So, a highly efficient boiler can make a big difference in your money saving efforts. And if you’ve been bothered by your nosy boiler, or perhaps the cold weather is getting too cold even for your old boiler, it may be time to do a boiler upgrade. If your boiler efficiency is G- rated, replacing it with an A- rated model – with a full set of heating controls – can save you up to £340 annually. Not to mention, 1,500 kgs of carbon dioxide every year. However, if you’ve done your research on the costs of a new boiler, you probably know that a new boiler installation is one of the largest single expenses homeowners face. Therefore, it is important that you invest your money on a worthwhile one. Here is an easy guideline on how to choose the best boiler for you: What is the best boiler brand? A Which? survey of more than 3,000 boiler owners revealed that the top two brands in the market are Vaillant and Worcester Bosch. These two manufacturers have been the most popular among homeowners and are regarded as the most reliable and scored a customer satisfaction rate of 83%. In the same survey, Which? said that one brand to avoid is Keston, where 79% of the owners said they...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 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...