Saving money on your energy bills this winter
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How can I check the safety and efficiency of my boiler?
“The only real way to check the performance of your boiler is to have it serviced by a Gas Safe engineer who can confirm it’s operating within designed parameters and make adjustments if needed. Every boiler model will have specific requirements and specialist equipment is needed to analyse combustion gases and measure gas pressures to ensure correct and safe operation.”
Take a look at our guide on how to find a gas engineer.
Why is it useful to have a boiler service or maintenance check before winter?
“It is worth having your boiler serviced before the heating season starts to ensure correct operation, and also as a form of pre-emptive maintenance. For example, to spot and rectify a little problem which could result in failure or an expensive repair if left unattended once the heating season starts and the boiler will be used regularly.”
What specific maintenance tasks would you recommend on a boiler?
“Aside from getting it checked by a Gas Safe engineer, I would always recommend making sure the radiators are bled (see below) and the boiler pressure is corrected afterwards as per the user manual.”
Take a look at our guide on how to bleed a radiator in six easy steps.
What are the most common issues or faults with boilers as we head into the colder months?
“The most common issue I see this time of year are pressure problems usually caused by a flat pressure vessel inside the boiler, this fault only becomes apparent once the heating is used for the first time since last winter.
Another common call out this time of year is for cooler hot water than usual from the hot taps on systems with combi boilers. This is due to the reduced temperature of the incoming cold-water supply meaning the boiler can’t always heat the water to the required temperature. Reducing the flow rate at the hot tap usually remedies this issue.”
Take a look at our guide on what to do if your boiler is losing pressure.
What is the most common energy-saving adjustments that homeowners can make to their boilers?
“The top tip for saving money and energy this winter is to turn down the flow temperature of the radiators using the control on the front of your boiler to as low as you can comfortably live with. If your system has a hot water tank which is heated by a separate boiler it’s important not to lower the temperature below 60 degrees to avoid the build-up of bacteria in the water tank. Also, if your boiler has a ‘pre-heat’ function make sure its disabled as per the user manual.”
What are the best practices for bleeding radiators and maintaining them?
“Using a radiator bleed key, open the bleed valve on the top of the radiator allowing the air to escape and catching any drips with a cloth, once water starts coming out the radiator is bled. Correct boiler pressure afterwards as per user manual. Try and avoid using radiators to dry clothes on if possible.”
What is the recommended winter boiler settings to balance comfort and energy savings?
“As long as your flow temperature is low enough to still comfortably heat your home, and you have a separate room thermostat to prevent the boiler running constantly once the home has reached temperature you should be able to maintain a comfortable level of warmth.”
What is the best way to prevent frozen pipes in the winter?
“Make sure any pipes in cold areas (such as loft spaces and garages, outhouses etc.) are insulated. Pipe insulation typically costs less than £1/metre so is a cheap task to carry out DIY. If your home is left unattended for any length of time in the winter set the boiler/thermostat to come on at a low temperature to prevent the house getting cold enough for pipes to freeze. Most modern boilers will activate at low temperatures to protect the unit itself, but you’ll need a separate room thermostat to protect the rest of the house.”
Find out more about preventing winter freezing damage to your pipes.
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