As winter arrives with its chilling weather, it’s the boiler that we rely on to keep us warm and comfortable. It’s the vital time when you want the boilers to work at their optimum level. But these boilers can break down anywhen and mainly at a time when it’s working the most.
Boiler breakdowns, occurring in the middle of the winter can be like a big nightmare. Let us discuss some tips here which can help your boiler function flawlessly during the winter:
Bleed your radiators:
Air trapped within your radiators will never let your heating system work perfectly. This air never conducts with heat or water and thereby forms some cold patches on the surface of the radiator. Bleeding your radiators every 3 months will lessen the chance of boiler issues.
Get your pipes insulated and defrosted:
During the cold months, it’s a common issue we face where the external condensate pipe freezes and the boiler stops working. Insulating your pipes and keeping the water inside the pipe at a consistently low temperature can do the job right. But if you find your pipes, already frozen you can just defrost them by using a hairdryer,space-heater, or simply by pouring lukewarm water into the pipes.
Get your boiler pressure right:
Boiler pressure levels might vary depending on the boiler manufacturer, but ideally, it should not cross the range of 1.0 bar and 2.0 bar. Boiler pressure gauge needle showing itself below 1 bar means your boiler is having issues and you need to repressurize your boiler by applying more cold water into it. On the other hand, if you find the boiler pressure gauge level going above 2 bar, it means your boiler has got air trapped inside it which should be taken outside by bleeding your radiators.
If your boiler pressure is still not going back to its usual green zone, it’s better to consult a Gas Safe registered engineer as there might be leakages or installation issues in the system.
Fit a carbon monoxide alarm:
Carbon monoxide leakages can happen at any time of the year. But usually, during the winter months when the boiler and furnace usage goes higher, chances of CO emissions also go up. This gas is poisonous and can be fatal to your health. So getting a carbon monoxide alarm installed at your home, usually in the sleeping areas is highly recommended for your safety.
Get your filters cleaned or replaced:
A dirty filter can reduce your boiler efficiency to its half. It might cause the boiler to overheat, consume more energy, and malfunction. So, especially before the winter, its’ good to clean the filter bags from this dust and debris. You can use a vacuum cleaner for this job, if your boiler has got replaceable fiberglass filters, you can just change the used dirty one to a new fresh one.
Get an Informal Boiler Inspection done:
Mainly, before the winter you can have a general visual inspection of your boiler. You can check whether there is any sign of rusting on the pipes, cracks, or anything usual. But for any kind of leakages or issues suspected, get a gas safe registered engineer to verify it.
Get your Thermostats Right:
Any time of the year it might be, your thermostat does a good job of making your home warm and comfortable. But if your thermostat is not working right and is giving wrong readings, it will never let your home temperature right. Its, therefore very crucial to get your thermostats right especially for the winter months.
Get your Boiler Clean:
Over time, as the boiler continues with its hard job, sludge and debris get accumulated in its system and stop its normal functioning. Make sure that’s not something happening with you before the winter. Powerflushing your heating system or adding an inhibitor to it can be the right solution to make it work perfectly.plumber companies near me