Accept it or not, a boiler is the most expensive and important part of your central heating system. So important that one can even call it The Central Heating System for an instant. Since its well-being cannot be risked due to its substantial role in maintaining your home’s heating system, you want it to work longer and effectively.
However, this is only possible when you take every precautionary step to keep your boiler in good condition. Gladly, this is all we are going to talk about here. In this succinct and complete guide on boiler maintenance, we will be looking at the various areas where your boiler will need special attention.
Moreover, what are the essential tips you can apply to prolong its life and avoid boiler repair .
So let’s get into it:
Complete Guide on Boiler Maintenance
1. Never forget Annual Boiler Service
This is, perhaps, the thing you don’t want to forget among all. Given the fact that it includes a deep assessment of all the boiler parts, it will help you identify any problem that may be affecting the boiler anytime soon. And therefore, fix it before any inconvenience. Other major benefits of annual boiler service include maximized life span, lower heating bills, and an assurance that everything is tip-top. Part of the reason that many boiler manufacturers require annual boiler service for the machine to stay in warranty, you don’t want to miss out on it.
2. Bleed the radiator twice a year
Well, your boiler is always susceptible to air accumulation, which in turn will cause cold spots in the boiler’s radiators. This problem is common and happens every year. To solve this, all you need to do is just bleed the radiators twice a year for best results, or at least once a year to ensure nothing goes wrong. If you have any sort of paint on your radiator valves, the adjustments will get a bit difficult. A WD40 will be of great help in this regard.
3. Keep a regular check on the boiler pressure
The ideal pressure for a boiler to operate is between 1-2 bars. Anything higher or lower than that will prevent the boiler from circulating the hot water properly, therefore causing different issues, each equally annoying. So whenever you go near your boiler, make sure to give a check to the pressure gauge. Make sure it isn’t lower or higher than something between 1-2 bars. In either case, you will experience inconvenience.
4. Check and balance the radiators
Most of the time, the radiators aren’t balanced properly, therefore resulting in uneven heating. In such situations, the radiators farther from the boiler are relatively colder when compared to the closer ones. Balancing them will have a significant effect on how the central heating system works, resulting in more efficiency.
5. Powerflush it regularly
With time, debris can settle down at certain points in the radiator, which in turn substantially reduce the efficiency of the radiator. This causes cold spots in the pipes and also serves as one of the major reasons for air accumulation. To avoid this, it is mandatory to power flush your heating system every 5 to 6 years. It will make sure that the system remains clean and efficient, thus reducing your problems by half.
6. Ventilation is must
With no proper insulation, your boiler remains highly susceptible to overheating. This causes frequent breakdowns; just another headache added to your big list of problems. As no one wants it, you always want to make sure that the boiler isn’t cluttered with your household and daily use items. The most common things causing the heat-trapping include coats etc hung over it. However, it doesn’t mean you should keep the boiler n open. It is okay to fit in a cupboard as long as the distance is (or more than) 700mm.
7. Always keep an eye on the flame
The flame of the boiler should always exhibit blue colour. A flame that is coloured yellow is a danger indicator, therefore showing signs of Carbon monoxide leakage. The gas is popularly known as “the silent killer”. To prevent any harmful effects of the gas, you should call a gas safe engineer as soon as possible to fix the leakage. Any irresponsible behaviour exhibited in this matter can have deadly consequences.
8. See if the overflow pipe is dripping
See if the external pipe is dripping water. If that’s the case, you may most likely want to call an engineer to fix this issue for you. This is most commonly caused due to a faulty pressure release valve which isn’t a costly repair.
9. Protect the pipes when Winter is Coming
Lagging the pipes before the freezing winters will keep the water from freezing inside the pipes. There are a lot of cheap and easy to use laggings available in the market for this purpose, all very handy. They are also easy to use. So if you want minimum hassle in winters and want your boiler to keep working perfectly, this is one of the most effective solutions you can try.
10. See if your flues are accessible
As per new regulations, the flue should be accessible so that any loose joints or cracks can be fixed. Otherwise, you must consult a gas safe engineer to install an access panel. This will help to identify and fix any problems before anything goes out of hand.
Some Basic Checks
Well, above were some of the major works required to keep the boiler working in good condition. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything even to the smallest details, here are some pointed checklists you should be doing;
The daily checklist
Although it might sound a bit annoying but keeping in check that your central heating
system is susceptible to minor faults, certain things are better to be seen regularly:
- Always inspect the area around and under your boiler to ensure there are no leaks.
- Check the pressure and temperature readings to see if they are lying within the specified limits.
- Make sure that your boiler has proper ventilation.
- Is the vent termination free of any debris and obstructions?
- See if the combustion air opening is free of blockages.
- Is your boiler making any unusual, disturbing sounds?
- Are there any service or error codes?
If anything seems out of place, you must consult a gas safe engineer on an urgent basis.
The monthly checklist
In addition to the daily maintenance checks, you will also like to see certain things on a monthly basis. Those include;
- Visual inspection of combustion air piping and flue vent gas piping. In the inspection, your main area of focus should comprise checking for leaks and blockages.
- Inspection of the boiler relief valve and discharge pipe for leakages.
- Other things you should be checking are the drain system, condensate drain line, drain trap, and PVC system.
If all the above-given inspections do not exhibit any error, then you should rest satisfied. However, in case of any defect, contact a professional.
The Annual Checklist
Also known as annual boiler service, this should be left for a professional to handle. Although there’s a brief overview of its benefits defined above, here’s what you should expect your engineer to be checking amidst the process:
- Inspection and cleaning of the boiler heat exchanger.
- Inspection of wiring and other connections and fixing them.
- Checking of water PH levels.
- Condensate system checking. It is also cleaned if necessary.
- The flame sensors are also checked along with the ignitor and burner assembly.
- The heating system is checked for any signs of corrosion and deterioration.
- The vent terminations are checked for obstructions etc.
- Control settings are also a major spot for inspection.
After a thorough inspection, the technician or engineer will ensure that any fault found is fixed at the spot. Thus, the annual boiler service not only helps to find but fix every problem that can pose potential safety risks.
Need Professional Assistance?
Just in case you need professional assistance for any process regarding your central heating system, feel free to call us at 02035047876 or visit our website at https://serviceteam.co.uk. Serviceteam Ltd. is a multiservice company operating all across greater London and its surroundings.
We offer a bunch of home and commercial maintenance, repair, installation, and refurbishment services at the most affordable and competitive prices. Additionally, Since our handymen and engineers are highly skilled in their particular areas of expertise, you can rest assured that your project will be done at the highest standards. One of the main reasons why we have the trust of every Londoner on leading online reviewing platforms like Trustpilot and Checkatrade.
