Fix The Roof While The Sun Shines - The UKBC Pre-Winter Heating Check.

As we try to keep cool in the height of summer, the coming colder months seem distant. However, they will soon be upon us. The summer is an ideal time to plan repairs, upgrades or new heating systems and schedule. It is also a good idea at the end of the summer to fire up your central heating to make sure it is working properly. There is nothing worse than turning the heating on on the first cold day of the autumn to find the system requires urgent repairs. 

 

And if your boiler is old and problematic, rather than chancing another winter, get a quote for a new one in the summer and arrange for it to be installed ready for the autumn. You'll find lots of a excellent deals around from first class local installers.

 

How to test your central heating - this is what UKBC recommend as a minimum:

1. Turn on the boiler and make sure the display is showing the boiler is set/operating correcting. And there are no error codes on the display (these are numbers preceded by an 'F', 'E' or 'L' depending on the make of boiler).
2. Pressure should show around 1.5 bar. If the boiler is showing low pressure, it means air may have got into the system during the months the boiler has not been used or that there is a slight leak somewhere.
3. Adjust the heating to the level you would normally have it set at on a cold day.
4. Check all the radiators are heating up properly.
5. Check for leaks around the radiator valves.
6. It you have TRVs, check they are working properly.
7. Check the hot water delivery to taps.
8. Listen for any strange noises across the heating system that could indicate say a failing central heating pump.
9. Listen out for unfamiliar noises coming specifically from the boiler.
10. Check you can call for heating and hot water or just heating (or just hot water). If you cannot a divertor valve (2-port/3-port valve) may have failed. 
11. Check batteries in the room thermostat.
12. If the controls are wireless (e.g. Hive/Nest/Honeywell T3r), check the device is paired and functioning properly.