Boilers, the quiet unsung heroes of the home. Working behind the scenes every day to deliver you hot water and heating. That is, until one day they don’t. And you can guarantee that if your boiler is going to break down, it’s going to do so when you need it the most and call-out fees are high, engineers are in demand, and your only option is to wait and huddle around candles or electric heaters at the coldest time of the year.
And while boilers do need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years, they can fail before this. If you want to avoid breakdowns on the coldest day of the year and premature failure, these tips can help you preserve the lifespan of your boiler with ease.
Regular Services are Key
A boiler service is key to maintaining and preserving the health and longevity of your boiler. Annual servicing involves a qualified engineer checking all parts and components of the boiler, as well as cleaning areas that can collect debris. This check can identify early signs of wear or highlight issues you might face in the future. While servicing doesn’t include repair, it does give you peace of mind that if anything is wrong, you can get it fixed now before it becomes a bigger issue. Plus, regular servicing maintains manufacturers’ warranties, which is required for home insurance too.
Monitor Pressure Levels
Pressure levels of your boiler matter. If the pressure is too low, then your boiler will need to work harder to do what it needs to do, putting more strain on the system. If it’s too high, then it strains internal components.
Modern boilers usually work between 1 and 1.5 bars when cold. It takes seconds to check the pressure of your boiler, and your handbook will show you where to look and how to change it if you feel confident enough. But if you’re constantly topping up the pressure, then you need to get this checked out, as it’s not something you should be doing on a regular basis.
Use the Controls Properly
Boilers cope better with consistent use. There are many myths and tips floating around online about how best to heat your home, but using programmable thermostats and timers means your boiler isn’t being pushed to extremes by being constantly switched on and then off again constantly.
Gentle, steady heating puts less strain on the system and keeps components working within their intended range.
Bleed Radiators
Cold spots on your radiators are a problem. Regularly bleeding radiators means your boiler isn’t having to work harder to get to and maintain the correct temperature.
Clearing radiators moves trapped air from the radiator and allows air to flow freely as it’s supposed to. It’s easy to do and, for the most part, quick — you hear the air escape when you turn the radiator k, ey and once you see water, you close the valve again. However, if you need to do this regularly, you might need radiators checked, as it can be a sign of sludge building up in them.
