What Is A Boiler Service?

A First boiler service requires a Gas Safe registered engineer to check your boiler’s efficiency and general maintenance. The purpose of a service is to check for faults or potential long-term issues that could be resolved before they cause a threat.

Landlords, businesses and homeowners will receive records and certificates at the end of the service. This will show the boiler has been checked, in line with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (1998).

When is a service needed?

Boilers should be serviced annually to stay in line with warranties and to ensure there are no problems. It can be difficult to decide when to complete your new boiler’s first service. It is best Practice to have it  serviced at the end your first year of owning it. At Bradford Boiler Company, we highly recommend completing boiler services during the lead up to winter. Getting this comepleted in the Summer or Autumn is the best option. Your boiler has fewer chances of breaking when you need it the most, in winter.

Why Should I get a service completed? There are many reasons why it is significantly important. For example, you can increase the lifespan of your boiler due to detecting issues and repairing your boiler when needed. This also means that you can save money, due to using less gas and not having to pay for a new boiler.
Another reason you should service your boiler annually is due to your warranty. Most warranties require you to service your boiler annually to avoid the contract being voided. We highly recommend keeping track of when your boiler was last serviced so you can stay within your warranty.

To find out more reasons why you should service your boiler, please click here.

If you are concerned about your boiler or you need to complete your annual service, call us today on 01274 317169 or email us at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk. or fill in our contact form by clicking here

Save Money On Your Energy Bills.

Energy saving tips Help. 20 ways to save money on your energy bills

The Energy Saving Trust

read our blog on replacing your old inefficient boiler

      1. Turning down your thermostat by 1 degree can save over £150.00 per year on your energy bills. For every 1 degree below your                         normal temperature setting you will save money on your energy bills.

      2. You can save energy by upgrading your old boiler to a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and                      thermostatic radiator controls.

       3. Adding a chemical inhibitor to your central heating system on your annual boiler service will keep your boiler protected to                               save money on breakdown bills.

       4. The ideal pressure on your boiler’s pressure gauge is between 1 and 1.5 bar. If your pressure gauge is higher or lower, you could be                 losing lots of money.

       5. Familiarise yourself with topping up the pressure on your Combi boiler. Over time, your combi boiler’s pressure will decrease,                       which will impact the efficiency of the boiler.

       6. Getting your boiler serviced annually helps to maintain safety, energy efficiency and keep your boiler warranty/guarantee valid.

       7. Having a magnetic filter helps with boiler reliability, causing fewer breakdowns by catching magnetic debris (often referred to as                   sludge). They can also collect non-magnetic debris as well if they have a screen inside.

Loft Space Energy Saving Help Tips

8. Insulating your loft will shave around £135 off your energy bills each year if you live in a typical semi-detached house.

       Empty Rooms

9. Are you heating rooms that aren’t being used? Make sure all your radiators have thermostats on them and are being used correctly.                The Energy Saving Trust suggests that turning down your thermostat by just one degree could save around £75 per year.

Radiators Save Energy

10. Periodically bleed all of your radiators to make sure there are no cold spots at the top of your radiators.

Hot Water.

11. Taking shorter showers uses less hot water and saves energy and money.

12. Save upto £25 a year by washing up in a bowl rather than using a running tap.

13. Buying an efficient showerhead can save you as much as £18 per person a year on energy bills. An additional savings can be had if                  you have a water meter.

Curtains

       14. Closing your curtains and tucking them behind the radiator when installed under a window is a great way to save money and keep                 the heat in your room to make it warm and cosy. The thicker the material the better insulating they will saving more energy usage.

Draught Proofing.

15. Check around your home for draughts, especially near outside doors. Draughts can cause your home to be cooler, which means                       you’ll have to spend more on heating your home.

Electrical Appliances.

16. Electrical appliances that you are not using should be switched off. Having an appliance or item on standby uses electricity, which                means you are losing money.

17. Turn off lights when you are not in that room, Every little helps.

Solar.

18. Consider having solar panels with a batteries fitted while the initial investment may be high. With electric and gas prices                                   constantly rising, having solar panels coupled with batteries installed may prove to be a good long-term investment.

Windows

19. Are your windows are double or triple glazed. Nearly all homes in the UK will have either double or triple glazed windows,                               but do pay attention to windows that have condensation inside the window panes. This indicates they have lost the argon                                 gas, that helps insulate your home, has dissipated away. There are specialist firms that will repair glazed window units.

20. Internal and external doors closed. Rooms not being used will suck the heat out of other rooms if you don’t close                                                 your doors. Keeping the external doors open will waste even more heat energy than internal doors due to letting the cold                                  from outside into your home.

What is a combi boiler?

A combination boiler, otherwise known as a combi boiler, is the most common type of boiler found in the UK, with over 50% of the new domestic installations in the UK being combi boilers.

How long do combi boilers last?

Combi boilers last between 10-15 years, depending on the model of the boiler and how well it is maintained. One way to improve it’s lifespan is to have your boiler serviced every year. To find out why it is very beneficial to service your boiler every year, please click here.

What are the benefits of a combi boiler?

Combi boilers are very popular due to how useful they are to many types of households. Benefits of combi boilers include:
-Saving space: combi boilers combine the central heating boiler with the water heater, which reduces the amount of space required. This means combi boilers are more space effective, allowing you to use the extra space as you wish.
-Lower costs: Due to the boilers being combined, they are easier to install, which can lead to lower installation costs than system and conventional boilers.
-Instant water: Combi boilers use the water mains grid to retrieve water to use in your heating system, meaning your showers will be more powerful.
-Efficiency: Combi boilers are considered to be highly efficient, with many combi boilers having an efficiency rating of over 90%.

What are the disadvantages of a combi boiler?

Combi boilers, despite being used in most UK households, do have one major drawback: they are not ideal for larger households. If your household has several bathrooms, or lots of rooms, then a combi boiler will not be powerful enough to supply the entire house. A system or conventional boiler will be more efficient for larger houses due to their use of a water cylinder.

The other main drawback to combi boilers is their usage of the mains. This may be beneficial from a space perspective, however, this can significantly impact the pressure of the water if multiple water appliances are being used at the same time.

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

The Law

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act (1985), the landlord is responsible for repairing and supplying water, gas, sanitation and electricity. A landlord is also responsible for arranging annual gas safety checks with a Gas Safe engineer. They do not necessarily need a boiler cover, but the repairs and maintenance of the boiler is the responsibility of the landlord.

The only exception to the landlord taking responsibility for boiler repairs is if the tenant caused the damage to the boiler. The tenant’s general responsibility is ensuring the general upkeep of the boiler is maintained, and reporting any issues they identify to their landlord.

Can tenants get boilers fixed on their own?

A tenant is not legally responsible for boiler repairs, unless caused by their own doing, therefore tenants should contact their landlords regarding the situation. Tenants should especially not attempt to repair the boiler themselves; not only is this dangerous, this can also cause issues with your boiler, which is your responsibility to amend.

In conclusion, if you are a tenant, your responsibilities are to maintain the boiler and to report any issues with your boiler to your landlord. Your landlord’s responsibilities are to ensure the boiler is annually serviced and repaired. To find out why you should annually service your boiler, please click here.

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

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.