Follow these 5 easy steps to prevent potential issues & stay safe in your home.
Although we’ve had some lovely sunshine, it’s certainly getting colder. The temptation to grab a hot chocolate, switch on your central heating and get cozy is creeping in. When switching your heating on, after having it off throughout the summer, is one of the most common times to experience issues.
1) Switch your heating on for short periods of time each month.
Although it sounds pointless, switching your heating on for 10 minutes each month keeps your boiler active and could highlight any issues prematurely. Identifying any issues early is much better than leaving it until winter, when it’s cold and plumbers are in high demand.
2) Regularly check your radiators.
Although it uses energy, it is important to turn your radiators on full every now and again to check for any problems. Problems with your radiators can mean that you’re paying for the same energy consumption, without the maximum efficiency. Excess air within your radiators could compromise their performance. You want to make sure that your radiators are heated evenly. If your radiator only heats at the bottom, this could be a sign that it needs bleeding. Please see my previous blog on ‘How to drain a radiator’ to learn more. As well as this, cold spots could be a sign of sludge and I would recommend a power flush. We also have anti-sludge products to help with this.
3) Have your boiler serviced.
Having your boiler serviced by a qualified plumber ensures that everything serviceable has been checked. This eliminates any concern you may have and allows you to relax knowing your boiler is in top condition. It’s worth bearing in mind that boiler services are often cheaper around summertime, rather than in winter. We even have a Boiler Specialist in store, with over 20 years of experience, to offer excellent advice.
4) Check your pipes.
Unidentified leaks or frozen pipes can lead to a variety of issues. For example, frozen pipes are a common issue when temperatures drop and can unfortunately escalate to burst pipes. Therefore, it is very important to regularly check your external pipework. I have previously published a helpful blog named ‘How to Prevent Frozen Pipes’.
5) Check your carbon monoxide monitor.
Flue blockages can be caused by things as simple as birds’ nests, leaves or general debris. If your boiler flue is blocked, gases have nowhere else to go apart from back inside your home. Without a carbon monoxide monitor, the presence of these harmful gases could go unnoticed. The NHS have stated that around 60 deaths per year are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, it is crucial that every home has a working CO monitor fitted. To ensure your CO monitor is working, regularly check the batteries and get it serviced by a gas safe engineer.
These 5 simple steps can help you stay safe, save money and avoid inconvenient issues.
As plumb merchants, at Plumbco, we have everything you need for any repair, replacement or installation. We have a vast array of pipes and insulation as well as plumbing and heating fittings that you use every day. Our comprehensive selection has been carefully chosen to ensure that we have you covered, no matter what the job entails. Plumbco is here to help.