Service your boiler
The most effective way to prepare your boiler for the winter is to service your boiler during the summer annually. You should service your boiler in Summer as you can identify any threats or potential future issues with your boiler to be able to counteract them before you need your boiler in the winter.
There are a variety of reasons to service your boiler annually, including:
-Detect issues
-Safety
-Legal requirements
-Extending the lifetime of the boiler
-Saving money
If you are unsure why you should service your boiler, check out our in-depth blog about why it is significantly important to service your boiler here.
Complete an unofficial inspection
Before servicing your boiler, it is useful to conduct an unofficial inspection of the boiler. You should look for any obvious cracks and leaks, rusting and oxidation, and any signs of evaporated water on the inside of the boiler. You should also check the flame colour; if it is the standard blue, then it is healthy. If it is orange/yellow, it is likely a serious issue and you should contact Bradford Boiler Company immediately for advice.
Testing
In the lead-up to the winter, you should try to test your boiler for roughly 15 minutes every night to make sure that it works efficiently. Before it gets too cold and the boiler is in use more frequently, you should test it to make sure it heats your home fast. Sometimes, a boiler may stop working well if it has not been used for a while, so it is advised to test it during periods of little use.
Check your boiler’s pressure
The average boiler pressure should be between 1 and 1.5 bar. If your boiler pressure is too high or low, you can attempt to change the pressure yourself. If not, you can contact Bradford Boiler Company to seek advice and support. One way you can reduce the chances of the pressure changing is to turn your boiler on, even when it is warm. During warmer periods, you should turn your boiler on for roughly 15 minutes just to check that it works well.
Bleed your radiators
Bleeding your radiators can increase the efficiency of your boiler. If your radiators feel cold at the top when the heating is on, you should bleed them to release the trapped air in the system.
Insulate your pipes
In the winter, sometimes pipes may start to freeze, causing blockages and decreasing the efficiency of your boiler. This is caused by the water being left during the condensing process. Pipe insulation reduces the chances of freezing, but if your pipe still freezes with the insulation, you can defrost the pipe by using lukewarm water.
Check the thermostat
An incorrect reading from the thermostat can be a problem for a variety of reasons. The thermostat could be producing inaccurate temperatures, which could affect the temperature of your home. This can be by either overheating the house or by it simply not turning on. By testing your thermostat before the winter season, you can identify any issues and resolve them before you need your boiler.
Install a carbon monoxide alarm
Installing a carbon monoxide alarm is not just useful for the winter; it will help to keep you safe, regardless of the time of the year. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that is colourless and odourless, which can make detecting it without an alarm very difficult. To read more about the dangers of carbon monoxide, and how to protect yourself during a carbon monoxide leak, click here.
If you have any concerns or would like to have a new boiler installed, please contact us at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk or 01274 317168.
