Have you ever had a boiler service and not completely understand boiler jargon that the engineer was using? You are probably not alone. Many homeowners and consumers are not really familiar with boiler- related technical terms. While this dilemma is quite common, you don’t have to be stuck with the problem. In fact, as a boiler user, you should fully understand boiler jargon. That way, when your gas safe registered engineer explains what is wrong with your boiler and what needs to be done to fix it, you know exactly what he is talking about. (Learn how to check if your engineer is gas safe registered.)
We have outlined a few tips to help you understand boiler jargon. Below are some of the common things your engineer will discuss with you.
Your engineer says: You need to upgrade from a standard-efficiency boiler to a high-efficiency boiler.
Your engineer means: Your boiler is an older model and is not working efficiently anymore. There are recent changes in the UK law that requires all newly- fitted gas boilers to be high- efficiency models.
You should: Consider upgrading to a condensing boiler. Modern models have up to 90% efficiency and can help you save up to 30% in your energy bill.
Your engineer says: You need a combi boiler, system boiler or open-vent boiler.
Your engineer means: Your engineer is making recommendations on what type of boiler you should purchase.
You should: Read our Guide to Boiler Types to learn more about each type, and then decide which is best suited for your home and your needs.
Your engineer says: “This boiler is very efficient and has a fantastic SEDBUK rating.”
Your engineer means: SEDBUK stands for Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK, a system provided by the government to allow consumers to compare the energy efficiency of boilers. A 90% SEDBUK rating is usually what is given to the most efficient boiler models today.
You should: You can learn more about SEDBUK by visiting their website: www.boilers.org.uk
Your engineer says: “Have you considered the type of control you would like with your boiler?”
Your engineer means: Your engineer is asking you to choose what controls you want fitted in your boiler to help you manage it better. Essentially, more sophisticated controls will allow you to control your heating system better. Better controls are also more efficient, and in the end can help you save money. The most basic boiler controls will let you adjust the temperature and the time your heating system will automatically turn on and off. Some features of more advanced controls include tailor fitting the schedule of your heating system on different days of the week or the weekend, and allowing you to control the thermostat in each room. There are even options to do RF (radio frequency) controls which are wireless and are less invasive to your property, as well as weather compensation controls which determine the temperature outside your home and uses that information to help your boiler operate more efficiently. All of these are designed to let you have better control in fine tuning your system.
You should: Do your research and find out what controls are available for your boiler model /type and brand. Check out different options as you consider your budget and your heating needs at home.
Your engineer says: “You should upgrade your radiators with TRVs.”
Your engineer means: TRV stands for Thermostatic Radiator Valve, a valve that is located on each radiator to let you change the temperature of room. The valve regulates the flow of hot water to each radiator based on the temperature of the room. Your engineer may recommend that you use TRVs depending on the condition of your radiators and fittings.
You should: Upgrading to TRVs will give you the option to control the heating in each room, and to not heat rooms that are not in use. This can help you save more energy. Learn more about radiators and how to clean them here.
Your engineer says: “We’ll need to flush your system before fitting the new boiler.”
Your engineer means: If you are doing a boiler replacement, your system should be thoroughly flushed using pressurized water to clear it of any sludge that may have built up over time. Sludge and dirt can cause your brand new boiler to operate inefficiently and may even damage it.
You should: You can learn more about power flushing and its benefits.
Your engineer says: “You should have a filter installed on the system.”
Your engineer means: A filter system will help keep the water in the system clean. Clean water keeps your boiler more efficient and can help prolong its life as well.
You should: Decide if you want to install a filter. This can be a great investment as it is important to keep your system clean. Learn more about MagnaClean installation and its benefits.
Your engineer says: “The water pressure needs topping up on your system.”
Your engineer means: System and combi boiler use water pressure to operate. A very low water pressure can prevent your boiler from working.
You should: A boiler losing pressure is one of the most common boiler issues as there is a minimum pressure level required for a boiler to work and a boiler leaking is a common cause of low water pressure. You can regularly check your boiler’s pressure gauge to make sure the water pressure is correct. Learn more about boiler pressure and how to increase boiler pressure in case it suddenly drops..
Your engineer says: “Your radiators need bleeding.”
Your engineer means: Radiator bleeding is the method of letting air out of the radiator and heating system. Trapped air can cause the radiators not to heat up.
You should: You can learn how to bleed radiators yourself.
Your engineer says: “The pilot light is not working.”
Your engineer means: The pilot light is a small gas flame that ignites your boiler. A pilot light that is not working will prevent the boiler from working.
You should: A pilot light malfunction is one of the most common boiler problems. Learn how to troubleshoot this here.
Your engineer says: “Your PCB is faulty.”
Your engineer means: The Printed Circuit Board or PCB is the electronic control that acts as the boiler’s brain. It can get damaged over time and can cause your boiler to work incorrectly or not work at all.
You should: Your engineer should check the rest of the boiler to make sure if the PCB is indeed causing the problem. If it is, it will need to be replaced with original parts from the manufacturer.
Your engineer says: “Your time switch is faulty.”
Your engineer means: The time switch allows you to set when your boiler will turn on and off.
You should: Your engineer can tell you how to fix the time switch, or if it needs to be replaced.
Your engineer says: “The fan in your boiler needs replacing.”
Your engineer means: The fan pushes dirty gas out through a pipe called a flue. Waste gas is released to the outside of your home. As a safety precaution, your boiler will not work when the fan stops working.
You should: If the fan is faulty, it should be replaced right away.
Your engineer says: “Your condensate pipe is frozen.”
Your engineer means: Condensation happens when gas is burned to create heat and is automatically discharged into a drain. Condensate pipes that are unprotected or not properly installed can freeze during very cold weather. This can cause your boiler from working.
You should: Learn how to deal frozen condensate pipes.
Your engineer says: “Your boiler needs a service.”
Your engineer means: A boiler service is a maintenance check done to ensure everything is in perfect working condition. Much like regular tune ups for your car or other appliances, gas boiler service must be done on a regular basis, ideally annually.
You should: Schedule your annual boiler service. Find out what to expect during a boiler service and the benefits of getting one. You will find the checklist here.
