Firstly, it is important to consider whether you are living on a university campus, or whether you are living in private accommodation. If you are living on the university’s campus, it is the responsibility of the university to address any heating concerns. If you are concerned about your boiler, you should contact your university. If you are in private accommodation, you will need to contact your landlord.

Signing the lease

If you are going to live in private accommodation, you should check out the central heating system in advance to ensure there are not any issues before moving in. This can include asking for evidence of a gas safety check certificate, checking for a sufficient fire and carbon monoxide alarm, and asking for the boiler to be turned on.

Issues living in accommodation

Boilers inevitably become less efficient as they age, and can stop functioning as well. This could occur while you are living in private accommodation, which can be difficult to deal with. If you start to notice any issues or concerns, you should raise them with your landlord. It is your landlord’s responsibility to resolve any issues with your boiler, so they should organise an annual servicing to ensure your boiler is running perfectly. To understand the importance and benefits to getting your boiler serviced annually, please click here.

What to look out for

There are many ways you can identify issues with your boiler, for safety or financial benefits. This includes:
-Soot build-up or a yellow flame: These are indicators of a carbon monoxide leak; make sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm and alert your landlord as soon as possible. To learn more about identifying signs of a carbon monoxide leak, please click here.
-Cold spots on radiators: Having cold spots at the top of your radiator when the central heating system is on is often an indication of air being trapped in your radiators. You should bleed your radiators and see if that improves the issue. We have a guide on how to safely bleed your radiators, which you can read here.
-Noise: If your radiators start to bang, clang or gurgle, then that can be an indication of there not being enough water in the system. You should contact your landlord immediately to get a specialist to check your boiler.

If you would like a boiler installing or repairing, please contact Bradford Boiler Company at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk or 01247 317169.

What does size mean in terms of boilers?

‘Size’, in the context of boilers, refers to kilowatts (kW). A “larger” boiler will have a larger amount of kWs; it will not necessarily be physically bigger. It is very important to keep in mind that you should purchase a boiler that suits your and your home’s needs; buying a boiler that has a larger kW than you need will only waste the fuel and will become a long-term financial burden. Likewise, it is also important to not try to save money by buying too little, as you will run out of hot water.

Types of boiler

Your boiler type will impact which size boiler you will need, due to how the different types of boiler are made. Before purchasing a boiler, you should consider which boiler type you have and which one would be beneficial for your hot water needs. The three types of boiler are:
-Combi boiler: A combi boiler is the most common type of boiler found in UK houses. Combi boilers are most efficient for small houses due to only heating the water you need.
-System boiler: A system boiler heats your hot water and heating system through a water cylinder, typically located in the attic. System boilers receive their water directly through the mains which is very useful for large houses.
-Conventional boiler: A conventional boiler heats your hot water and heating system through a water cylinder. Conventional boilers are useful for older buildings that may not be able to handle higher boiler pressure.

Count your radiators

One way to determine what size boiler you will need is to count your radiators. For example, if you live in a one-bedroom bungalow, you will need a smaller boiler than a 5 bedroom house, due to having a larger demand for hot water. Below are estimates to what size boiler you need, depending on the type of boiler, and how many radiators you have:

Combi boilers:
-Up to 10 radiators: 24kW – 27kW
-10 – 15 radiators: 28kW – 34kW
-15 – 20 radiators: 35kW – 42kW

System and Conventional boilers:
-Up to 10 radiators: 12kW – 15kW
-10 – 15 radiators: 18kW – 24kW
-15 – 20 radiators: 30kW – 40kW

Combi boilers require more energy due to heating the water instantly, unlike system and conventional boilers. It is very important to know which boiler type you have so you can ensure you purchase the correct size boiler, using the estimations above.

If you have any concerns or would like a boiler installed, please do not hesitate to contact Bradford Boiler Company at 01274 317169 or at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk.

Take a look at our range of boilers.