Boilers have a habit of failing on the coldest night of the year. A little preparation in autumn makes that much less likely. Here is a checklist you can work through in an afternoon, plus a few things to leave to an engineer.
Book the service
If your boiler has not been serviced in the last year, do it now, while engineers have availability. Our guide on how often a boiler should be serviced explains what is covered.
Check the pressure
Look at the pressure gauge on the front of the boiler. Most want roughly 1 to 1.5 bar when cold. If it is low, top it up using the filling loop, following your boiler's manual. If it drops again within days, you may have a leak, so call us.
Run the heating briefly
Turn it on for a short while now to make sure everything fires up and every radiator warms. It is far better to find a fault on a mild day than in a cold snap.
Bleed the radiators
If any have cold patches at the top, bleed them with a radiator key until water appears, then check the boiler pressure again. If a radiator is cold at the bottom, you may have sludge building up. See whether a power flush is worth it.
Protect against frozen pipes
- Insulate pipes in lofts, garages, outhouses and other cold spaces.
- Check the condensate pipe on a condensing boiler. If it runs outside, it can freeze in a hard frost and shut the boiler down. Insulating it, or having it rerouted, avoids the problem.
- Know where your stopcock is, and make sure it turns.
- If you go away in winter, leave the heating on low, or use the frost setting, rather than turning it off completely.
Look at the controls
Set the timer for the hours you really use. Check the thermostat works and that batteries are fresh if it is wireless.
Carbon monoxide safety
Test your carbon monoxide alarm, and replace it if it is out of date. If it sounds, open the windows, leave the house and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Oil heating
Check the tank level, and order early if it is low. Winter deliveries can be delayed.
Keep the key numbers handy
Write down your boiler's make and model, your engineer's number and your guarantee details. If it does break, you will be glad you did.
If anything on the list worries you, or your boiler is showing its age, call us. We offer emergency callouts 24/7 across North Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
