Take care of your boiler, and it’ll take care of you

Regardless of the age of your boiler, making sure that it stays in good working order is a top priority if you want to stay warm over winter. And anyhow a broken down boiler can be an expensive problem to fix.

Get your boiler serviced annually.

If you want to keep your boiler running as efficiently as possible, you should set up a regular 12 monthly service that ensures everything is running smoothly, and that your boiler is still safe. If there is a problem, the engineer will be able to detect this during your service, so any necessary repairs or replacements can be carried out.

Have your boiler cleaned regularly.

You wouldn’t believe how much dust your boiler can collect on the inside. Avoiding a buildup is important for prolonging the life of your boiler, but don’t attempt to clean your boiler yourself if you’re not a professional - that can be dangerous. For one thing boilers heat water to around 60 degrees. You might also damage the boiler, or even cause a gas leak. tay safe and have a Gas Safe engineer carry out the cleaning as part of your annual service.

Bleeding your radiators.

Keeping your radiators properly maintained also helps your boiler. Inefficient radiators can cause your boiler to work a lot harder. ou can bleed your radiators quickly and easily yourself without needing to call a plumber. It’s as simple as opening a valve on your radiator and letting out the trapped air that can cause them to heat up unevenly.

Powerflushing your radiators.

One of the signs that you need to powerflush your radiators is if your boiler is increasingly noisy. Powerflushing deep cleans your radiators and central heating system using chemicals to flush out any sludge, rust, and other debris that settles in radiators, pipes and boilers and prevents them working properly.

Check your boiler pressure.

Boiler pressure can be a major factor in its performance. Over time boilers can lose pressure and become less efficient. It’s a good idea to check the pressure gauge every couple of months, and if the reading is low (below 1 Bar for most boilers), you can either top this up by following the instructions in your manual, or by asking your plumber to help.

Keep the boiler well ventilated.

Boilers work most efficently if they’re kept well ventilated, and that means keeping the space around them clear. If your boiler is inside a cupboard, make sure you don’t fill the area around the boiler with coats, storage boxes or anything else you want to keep out of sight. Your plumber can advise you during your annual check.

Fit a carbon monoxide detector.

A faulty boiler can create the risk of a carbon monoxide leak which can cause serious danger to you and your family, so it’s vital to make sure that the boiler is always working properly. To be on the safe side, always keep a detector with an alarm next to your boiler, and test it regularly to be sure your boiler is safe.