Is Your Boiler Prepared for the Winter Months
The chances are you rarely give your boiler much thought when it’s working well. It’s an important piece of kit, however, delivering heat and hot water and making your home a cosy and comfortable place to be. This is especially important during the winter months when it’s freezing cold outside and you crave indoor warmth the most!
So while you may not think much about what your boiler does every day, it’s important to prepare it for the winter, as otherwise, it’s more likely to go wrong when you most need it.
Below we’ve written a simple guide on how you can get your boiler ready for the cold spell, helping to ensure your home remains toasty and comfortable both morning and evening!
How to prepare your boiler for winter
Check your boiler pressure
Checking the pressure of your boiler is a simple way to help prepare it for winter. If the pressure is too high or low it will affect the performance of your boiler and may signify a problem that can cause it to break down. It’s therefore a simple task that is definitely worth doing.
To check the pressure on your boiler, look for the pressure gauge that is featured on most modern units. This will display a green area and show where the pressure of your boiler currently lies. It should be within the green zone, usually between 1 and 1.5. If it’s higher than this it means you need to lower the pressure, which bleeding your radiators can help with. If it’s lower, you may need to repressurise your boiler, via the filling loop.
If, however, the pressure of your boiler keeps changing, or the above actions don’t solve the pressure, you should get it investigated ASAP by an experienced heating engineer who is Gas Safe registered.
Bleed your radiators
Over time, air can become trapped in your radiators, which prevents the heat from circulating. So if you notice cold spots on them or they don’t heat up fully, bleeding could be the solution. You can bleed your radiators yourself by carefully using a radiator key. After you have bled them, you should notice a difference in how they perform pretty much straight away. This will help hugely during the colder months.
Don’t neglect your pipes
Frozen pipes in winter can be a common issue and spell disaster for your home, as when a pipe freezes, it prevents hot water from being sent to your taps and radiators.
You can help prevent this by either having your pipes insulated or by keeping your central heating running throughout the cold spell, which will stop the pipes from freezing. To do this, just turn your thermostat down to low when you’re out or don’t require heating, as this will still stop the temperature from dropping to the point where your pipes are at risk of freezing.
Powerflushing
When radiators remain cold after bleeding, your system likely needs professional flushing. This specialised service removes accumulated debris and sludge that can impair your heating efficiency. At Pipeline Plumbing Services Ltd, we use advanced flushing techniques to restore your system's performance without damaging your pipes or radiators.
Listen for Unusual Sounds
Your boiler should operate quietly and efficiently. If you notice any unusual sounds - perhaps a kettling noise or grinding - it's crucial to have these investigated promptly. These sounds often indicate limescale build-up or pump issues, both of which can significantly impact your system's efficiency during peak winter usage.
Run Your Heating System
We advise running your heating for at least 15 minutes every month during summer. This simple practice helps prevent pumps and valves from seizing up through lack of use. When autumn arrives, increase these test runs to identify any potential issues before they become serious problems.
Get your boiler serviced
The best thing you can do to prepare your boiler for winter is to get it serviced. By arranging a service towards the end of summer, a Gas Safe registered engineer can thoroughly inspect and check all the main parts of your boiler, and clean the inside to remove dust and debris which builds up over the year.
A boiler service also allows for any emerging issues to be spotted and swiftly dealt with - preventing them from causing your boiler to need a full repair further down the line.
After your boiler is serviced you can feel truly prepared for winter, as well as enjoy a better performing boiler that can even work more efficiently than it has been!
Providing expert boiler care in Pulborough, Horsham Storrington & Billingshurst
At Pipeline Plumbing Services Ltd, we offer a range of boiler services across Storrington, Horsham, Pulborough, Billingshurst and the surrounding areas, so if you’d like help preparing your boiler for winter just get in touch. You can contact us by calling us on 01903 740538 or 07871 725133, or email at info@pipelineplumbingservices.co.uk or our website via our contact form.
