How to prepare your boiler for the winter

It is easy to take your boiler for granted during the winter months, but you will soon remember it if you suddenly have no access to home heating or hot water.

If your boiler breaks down during the winter, it is not only a major inconvenience, it can also pose a genuine threat to the safety of those inside the property.

For this reason, it is vital that you prepare your boiler for winter in the best possible way.

A couple of months before the temperatures begin to fall for earnest, there are a few measures that all boiler owners should take to ensure that they are prepared for what is to come.

Taking precautions at this money can save you a huge amount of inconvenience, money, and time further down the line.

Here are the most important things to do to make sure that your home is lovely and warm throughout the upcoming winter season.

Test the boiler

Many people, especially those who get their hot water via another source, turn their boilers off completely for several months during the summer.

There is nothing worse than switching your boiler back on in the Autumn, only to discover that it is not working properly, or even won’t turn on at all.

It is worth testing your boiler in advance to make sure it is still in good working order so that the first time that any faults are identified is not when the boiler is needed for essential purposes.

To keep your boiler in good health it is recommended that you, or a professional engineer, conducts a detailed boiler health check, or an annual service, a couple of months before the winter begins to avoid any nasty surprises later down the line.

Check the pressure

Boiler pressure is an indication of efficiency, and a drop in pressure could indicate either that the boiler will not work to its full potential, or that there is an underlying issue with it that requires further attention.

It is pretty easy to top up the pressure on the vast majority of home boilers, check the manufacturer’s guide or contact them directly to learn how to do this.

However, if you turn on your boiler and the pressure gauge shows that you are dealing with high pressure, this is more of a concern, and you should contact a qualified Gas Safe engineer immediately.

Insulate your pipes

If you have had a burst pipe in a past winter, or simply want to make sure that this never happens to you, make sure to insulate your pipes fully before temperatures fall.

Standing water in pipes can freeze and cause cracking, or stop your boiler from operating properly.

If you are planning on going away for a period over the winter, maybe for a Christmas break, make sure to programme your boiler to turn on intermittently at a relatively low temperature, rather than turning it off completely, as this will prevent the water in your pipes from reaching freezing and turning into ice.

Bleeding radiators

Bleeding radiators has become somewhat of a lost art in recent times but it remains an essential task for the maintenance of your heating system.

Bleeding radiators replaces air inside the radiator that might be preventing water from circulating.

This air can create a cold are towards the bottom of your radiators and seriously damages the efficiency of the unit.

Bleeding your radiators before winter begins, therefore, will ensure an efficient and highly effective heating system this winter.

Get a boiler service

Perhaps the most important thing that you can do to prolong the lifespan of your boiler is to make sure that you have it serviced by a Gas Safe engineer on an annual basis.

Boiler service Glasgow has a number of important benefits including ensuring that any minor issues are detected and resolved before they escalate, testing to check for any carbon monoxide leaks, and ensuring that you are able to achieve maximum energy efficiency throughout the winter months.

The cost of energy has never been higher and anything you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home is extremely welcome.

Engineers will not only ensure your boiler is working as efficiently as possible but will also give you some advice on the best way to use your boiler in the most energy efficient way.

Many boiler warranties also rely upon you having your boiler serviced on an annual basis so failing to have this done could mean that you end up facing large repair bills during the winter if something does go wrong.