Treat your boiler well, it lasts longer. Neglect it, and it's leaving with half of everything you own.
Being one of the most expensive purchases you'll make, it's likely that you'll want to avoid replacing your boiler at all costs.
Boiler maintenance is vital to keep your boiler happy, healthy and working efficiently for as long as possible.
In fact, an annual boiler service, during which maintenance will be conducted is an essential part of keeping your boiler's warranty valid.
So what do you need to know? And what steps can you take to ensure your boiler is maintained as well as possible?
Let us explain...
PS We fit new combi boilers with gas safe installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and you could get it installed as quick as tomorrow.
Key Points:
Boiler maintenance is a broad term that may include external cleaning or a professional gas-safe service.
An annual boiler service is a great way to ensure your boiler is operating safely and at optimum efficiency.
Importantly, an annual boiler service is often a requirement for keeping your warranty valid.
We offer boiler servicing nationwide, book yours today for servicing as quickly as tomorrow.
Boiler Maintenance Tips
Below we list the most important steps you can take to maintain your boiler - remember that an annual boiler service is an essential part of keeping your warranty or guarantee valid.
Annual Boiler Service
An annual boiler service is the most important step you can take for boiler maintenance.
When your boiler's working fine and dandy, it's unlikely you'll want to call out a plumber. However, getting your boiler serviced once a year can save you a fortune in the long run.
During a boiler service, a trained engineer will check your boiler is working properly and investigate any leaks or issues.
They'll also clean any parts which have gathered dirt, which will help to avoid broken parts in the future.
Boiler services usually cost around £130 (including VAT) but are well worth your money.
Most boiler warranty agreements are only valid if the boiler has been serviced every year.
Miss one service and you could be responsible for costly repairs further down the line.
Flush Your Heating System (Power Flush)
Over time, sludge and other debris can build up in your radiators and pipework, made up of rust and dirt from the water circulating the central heating system.
The build-up can cause blockages in the system, and you'll often notice that your radiator doesn't completely heat up (often the bottom remains cold) since the flow of water has been disrupted somewhere.
For the most efficient performance, it's recommended that you get your boiler cleaned with a power flush every 5 years - especially in hard water areas since they are more prone to these issues arising.
It's also good practice to get a flush when a new boiler is installed, to make sure that your new efficient boiler isn't being wasted on sludge-filled radiators.
You should expect to pay around £300-500 for a power flush. However, you should recoup some of this back as you spend less on your heating since it will make your heating system more efficient.
You may be interested in Gas Engineer Allen Hart explaining the most common boiler problems and how you can resolve them in the video below:
Top Up Boiler Pressure
Most modern boilers have a pressure gauge display, and it's there for a reason. It's important to keep an eye on your boiler's pressure and take action if it's incorrect.
The correct pressure for your boiler should be displayed by a green area on the dial - usually between one and two bars.
If the needle displays less than 1 bar, the pressure has dropped too low. This can be caused by leaks or recently bled radiators which both allow pressure to escape.
You should check the pipework around the system for any leaks. If you do find a leak, you can buy a sealer from most DIY shops.
Once any leaks are sealed, or if you couldn't find anything, you can re-pressurise your system. If the pressure drops again, you'll need to get an engineer out - there could be a leak within the boiler.
On the other hand, your boiler pressure can become too high. If you have recently re-pressurised your boiler, make sure that the filling loop and valve are closed properly.
A boiler's high pressure can be released by bleeding your radiators. However, if it continues to be too high, it could be a symptom of other issues, so it's best to let a professional take a look.
Related heating/energy guides:
Blocked Condensate Pipes?
Most modern boilers have condensate pipes which carry water away from the "condensing" boiler. The pipe is usually made of plastic and transports the water outside of the house to drain.
Due to the water running outside the property, the pipes sometimes freeze during colder weather. To avoid frozen pipes, you can apply added insulation around the outside of the pipes to help prevent them from freezing.
If you plan to go away during cold weather, leave the boiler to maintain around 10°c to keep the water moving around the system.
During the Summer months, it may be that you only use your boiler for hot water - or perhaps you may go on holiday meaning you won't use it at all.
Leaving your boiler unused for longer periods of time can lead to parts seizing up and causing a build-up of grime and dirt which may affect your boiler's performance when you come to need it.
By running your heating for around 15 minutes every few weeks, you'll keep the parts moving and clean - so it's more likely to work when the colder weather comes.
Time for a new boiler?
If so, get your new boiler installed with Heatable, here’s why:
Gas Safe installation - quick as 24 hours.
Thousands of happy customers – an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot (that’s better than the market leader).
Price match guarantee – if you find a cheaper quote, we will match (must be like for like).
Multiple payment options - interest-free available on selected models.
12-year guarantee on selected boilers.
Fixed price guarantee – no hidden costs
Save your quote until later
Heat Happy.
