Boiler breakdowns can be an absolute nightmare! Not only are they inconvenient but they can also be costly. Here we will provide you with our top tips on how you can minimise the likeliness of your boiler breaking down.
Make sure your boiler is regularly serviced
One of the best ways to avoid your boiler breaking down unexpectedly is to have your boiler serviced annually. A Gas Safe engineer will visit your home to perform checks on your boiler and ensure it is in a good working condition. If any problems are identified, they can be fixed quickly, reducing the chance of your boiler breaking down in the future.
Insulate your pipes
It is also recommended that you insulate your pipes to prevent them from seizing up when temperatures take a dip. By insulating your pipes you will reduce the risk of your gas boiler’s condensate pipes freezing during the winter, a problem that usually leads to boilers breaking down. Pipe insulation can be picked up from your local DIY store and isn’t too expensive. It’ll certainly save you a lot of money in the long run!
Get to know your boiler
Whilst you do not need to know how to fix your boiler (that’s what the experts are for) it helps if you understand a little about how your boiler works. This will allow you to identify any warning signs of faults and problems. The best thing to do is to read your manual – you may even be able to carry out simple boiler repairs, such as re-pressurising the water level yourself.
If you can’t find your manual, simply Google your boiler make and model and you should be able to download a PDF copy from the manufacturer’s website.
Keep your central heating system in check
Keeping your central heating system running efficiently can also help to reduce the likelihood of your boiler breaking down. For example, if one of your radiators is not working properly, you will need to bleed it to remove any trapped air inside your central heating system.
It is also a good idea to make sure that your pipes do not get clogged up, by running your central heating system occasionally throughout the summer. Turning your heating on for fifteen minutes, every month during the summer should help to keep your system running efficiently. If you are going on holiday during the winter, make sure that your system is programmed to turn itself on and off every day, to prevent your pipes from freezing.
Seek advice from the experts
If you have reason to believe that your boiler is not working properly, it’s best to get in touch with the experts as soon as possible. If you wait to see if the problem develops, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk or simply worsening the problem. Never carry out any boiler repairs that you are not comfortable doing. Always call out a Gas Safe engineer to do the work for you!