Central Heating Systems – Top Tips For Maintaining Your Boiler

Your household boiler is at the forefront of your home's central heating system and maintaining that system starts with maintaining your boiler.  You may think Summer is a strange time to be talking about boiler maintenance, but now is exactly when you should be thinking about it, so that when those cold winter months set in, your boiler is up and running with no problems.

Your boiler brings together gas, electricity and water to heat the water that supplies your taps and radiators.  It works really hard every day heating up and cooling down, pumping and making sure your home is warm and comfortable.  There are some really simple maintenance jobs you can do yourself to keep it in great condition so that it works efficiently and safely when you need it.  You should also ensure that you have your boiler serviced annually, which will be a manufacturer's requirement in order for the warranty to be valid.

1. Take Care Of Your Boiler

Keep your boiler clean by wiping its case with a damp cloth and then drying it.  If your boiler is inside a cupboard then ensure you leave the right amount of space around it (as per manufacturer instructions) and ensure you keep air vents, grilles and flues free from blockages.

NEVER remove the boiler case. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer, like Leeva Plumbing and Heating, is legally qualified to remove the casing.  If you think there's a problem with your boiler, don't be tempted to do it yourself. Call an expert immediately.

2. Fit A Room Thermostat With A Timer

If you don't already have a room thermostat you could save a considerable amount of money a year by having one fitted.   According to Energy Saving Trust, an average house saves around £70 and 280kg of carbon dioxide a year.

Setting the timer on your thermostat to come on at those times of day when you need your boiler will mean that your boiler isn't working hard when it isn't needed.   Modern boilers can be left off all day when the house is empty and then you can set your timer to turn on the boiler half an hour before you arrive home.  This should be enough to have your house heated when you arrive.

3. Turn Your Heating Down A Bit

Try turning down your thermostat by one degree each day. Each time, leave it for a day or so and see if you feel warm enough. When you get to the point where you feel a bit cold, turn the thermostat back up one degree and then set it at that in the future.  Doing this could save you a tidy amount on your annual heating bill, whilst also reducing your carbon footprint.

4.Maintain Your Hot Water Cylinder

If you have a hot water cylinder in your house, your cylinder thermostat should be set to about 60°C/140°F.  This temperature will kill off any harmful bacteria but is also hot enough to scald you, so be careful.  It's worth fitting a thermostatic mixing valve for extra satefy. This will ensure that the hot water in your taps is at a safe temperature.

If your hot water cylinder isn't insulated, you should consider lagging it and the surrounding pipework. You can do this yourself and it could save you around £30 per year.

Central Heating Systems Supplies & Maintenance in Ripley

Well, there you have it, our top tips for maintaining your central heating system.  But if you need help with your boiler, or just an annual service, give Leeva Plumbing & Heating a call and we'll be there to fix your problem and put your mind at ease.