Is Your Boiler Winter Ready?

Boilers are undoubtedly needed most in the winter months. When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing nicer than central heating to keep you toasty and hot running water for enjoying a warming bath or shower.

With this in mind, one of the worst things to happen to your home in winter is for your boiler to breakdown. Fear not, however, because there are a few simple things you can do to help prepare your boiler for the colder months. 

To help you get ready, ask yourself the following questions and get in touch if you need any help.

Is your boiler serviced?

Servicing your boiler every year is the best way to care for it. If you can, arrange a boiler service for late summer or early autumn so you know it’s in the best shape it can be for winter. During a boiler service, your Gas Safe registered engineer will inspect your boiler thoroughly, spotting any small emerging faults, which can be dealt with before they cause big problems. 

A service also involves the cleaning and testing of the inner parts of your boiler. This means all debris and dust are cleared away and your boiler is checked for safety and performance-ready for the months when you need it most.

Have you checked your boiler’s pressure?

This is something that many people don’t know about but is very simple to do. Most modern boilers have a pressure gauge which shows a green area. This is where the pressure of your boiler should sit, usually between bars 1 and 1.5. 

If it’s higher than this you probably need to bleed your radiators to release a build-up of air. If it’s lower, your boiler may need repressurising. 

Do your radiators need bleeding?

As well as helping to lower the pressure in your boiler, bleeding your radiators can also help if you’ve found they aren’t giving out a lot of heat. Trapped air in your radiators prevents the heat circulating, and bleeding them releases this air so they immediately perform better. 

You can carefully bleed your radiators yourself using a radiator key.

Are your pipes protected?

To help prevent dreaded frozen pipes, you can either insulate them yourself, by buying special foam tubes from a DIY store, or keep your heating on low during the winter months so they’re always in use. 

For help in Essex with your boiler this winter, just call

At D A Gas, Plumbing & Heating, we’re your local trusted boiler experts, covering North Weald, Ongar, Theydon Bois, Epping, Hoddesdon and Broxbourne. If you’d like help getting your boiler ready for winter, or have any questions about the above, just give us a shout. You can call us on 07920 875189 or 01279 316304, email us at dave@dagas.co.uk or send a message to our online contact form.