A well maintained boiler is naturally more efficient
As days get colder and the nights draw in, don’t forget to carry out essential Autumn heating checks to ensure your boiler is ready for the winter months.
Why are we talking already about essential Autumn heating checks? Yes, we’re well aware that we’ve only just enjoyed the August bank holiday. But before we know it, talk will turn to Halloween, Bonfire Night and dare we say it, Christmas.
Therefore, it is important that we carry out essential Autumn heating checks to make sure that our homes keep us safe and warm as the nights draw in. The last thing you want to do is to switch on your heating because your house is cold and to discover that it isn’t working.
Not only is it annoying and potentially expensive, but could also mean a chilly house for longer than you’d like. Why? Because it’s also quite a common problem so a lot of gas engineers will be incredibly busy at this time of year.
A well maintained boiler is naturally more efficient, which can also save you money on your heating bills.
Essential Autumn heating checks and tips
There are certain things that you as a homeowner can do to ensure that your heating works – and works in an efficient manner. These include:
- Check your heating: Before you need your heating, turn on your system to check it’s working. After half an hour, check that all the radiators are on and hot. If they aren’t warm at the top or the bottom, they will need rebalancing
- Check the pressure: If your boiler has been out of action for months, the pressure may have dropped. It should be between the 1-1.5 bar. If it’s under 0.5 bar, the system will need to be re-pressurised. It’s a very simple thing to do but if you’re unsure, get in touch with your local gas engineer to help
- Service your boiler and central heating: The best way to prepare for Autumn and Winter is to have your heating system professionally serviced. It may seem expensive but believe us when we say that the cost of a service is far less than trying to repair a boiler. Do not delay if you are planning on doing this, as your gas engineer is only going to get busier the closer we get to Winter
- Bleed your radiators: This is one of the simplest but most effective essential Autumn heating checks to do. If you haven’t used your heating for a while, it is likely that your radiators will need to be bled to release any trapped air. Bleeding your radiators means that they will warm up properly, working efficiently and reducing strain on your heating system. It’s a simple task but make sure you have some old pots or towels to hand!
- Replace old radiator valves with thermostatic valves: Do you really need to heat every single room in your house? By installing thermostatic valves to your radiators, you can control which ones are on and off, as well as the temperature in each room. This simple task will reduce your heating bills, your carbon footprint and the strain on your boiler
- Check your loft insulation: Ensuring that you have loft insulation – and that it is in good condition – is an incredibly easy way to keep your home warm It needs to be at least 270mm thick to be efficient
As you can see, you can do quite a few essential Autumn heating checks yourself, even if you aren’t that adept at DIY. However, other issues will require a professional.
Ensure that you always use a Gas Safe registered engineer when carrying out any gas maintenance, servicing and repairs – anyone who is not registered cannot legally work with gas, putting your home and loved ones at risk.
We hope you found our article, ‘Essential Autumn heating checks’ of interest. Please do not hesitate to contact Gas Training & Assessment if you are considering a career in the gas industry.
