Having your central heating in top working condition can result in serious savings over the winter months. Not only will this make your central heating more efficient, meaning you use less fuel to achieve the same level of comfort, it also reduces the risk of a breakdown which could leave you out of pocket.
There are several steps you can take to make sure your central heating stays in rude good health over winter, some of which won’t cost you a penny.
Bleed your radiators
Over time, air can build up in your radiators which makes them less efficient. This is because the air prevents the radiator from heating up fully, with cold spots where the air is trapped. As a result, less of the radiator’s surface area is providing heat to the room, so the space takes longer to warm up.
Trapped air can be relatively easily removed by bleeding your radiators. This is done using a bleed valve, which should be located at the top of one end of the radiator. For older models you will need a radiator key, but on newer models this can usually be done with a flathead screw driver.
Check your pressure
For your boiler to work properly, the water pressure in your system should be between 1 and 1.5 bar. If the pressure drops below this, your boiler will stop working and you will have to repressurise it. If your water pressure keeps dropping below 1 bar on a regular basis, this suggests you may have a leak somewhere or a faulty pressure regulator valve.
Having your boiler constantly stop and start due to problems with pressure means it won’t be able to effectively or efficiently heat your home. Whatever the cause, it is only like to get worse and could end up being very expensive to fix if left. You should therefore have an experienced central heating engineer check your system at the earliest opportunity.
Powerflush your pipes
Over time, rust, limescale and other obstructions can build up in your boiler, radiators and pipework, especially in older systems. This reduces the flow of water around your central heating, making it slower to heat up. This means you get less heat delivered to your radiators for every unit of fuel you use, making your heating much less efficient.
Powerflushing involves pumping water and special chemicals around your central heating at high speed and low pressure. This removes any obstructions, allowing water to flow freely around your system for maximum efficiency. It can also significantly reduce the risk of breakdowns and extend the life of your boiler, pipes and radiators.
Book a boiler service
The best way to make sure your boiler is in peak condition is to have it serviced by a qualified, experienced engineer. They will be able to check that every part of your boiler is working correctly and carry out any maintenance or repairs that might be needed.
If you’re looking for boiler servicing in Bristol, DHS can help. We have over 40 years’ experience working on Bristol’s boilers, making us one of the city’s most trusted firms. Our Gas-Safe registered engineers have all the training and qualifications needed to keep your boiler working safely and efficiently all year round.
Call DHS today on 0117 924 7200, email us, or request a call back.
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