How often do you get your boiler checked? While for renters, this is something your landlord should conduct annually, for homeowners, these checks might not occur as regularly as they could or even should do. And for the most part, some simple checks throughout the year can keep your boiler working well and supporting you and your home when you need it the most.
Here are some quick checks everyone should know to make sure their boiler is in full working order.
If you don’t regularly check and maintain your boiler, small issues can quickly develop into more serious and costly problems. What might start as low pressure, unusual noises, or minor leaks can escalate into full system failures if left unchecked, often at the worst possible time.
Over time, neglect can reduce efficiency, increase energy bills, and put unnecessary strain on key components, ultimately leading to the need for a full replacement rather than a simple repair.
In many cases, this means capital homeowners are faced with no choice but to arrange a new boiler installation in Edinburgh sooner than expected. What’s worse, with Edinburgh’s cold winters increasing the demand on already faulty boilers, this is when they are most likely to break down completely, at the worst possible time. This is also the busiest time of the year for Edinburgh boiler replacement companies, so due to the demand, you may not be guaranteed to get your boiler replaced right away.
Check Pressure
First, you need to know what the pressure should be for your boiler. Usually, for the UK, it is around 1-1.5 bars of pressure when cold. When carrying out checks, look for higher or lower pressure, as this will indicate if there’s a potential problem. It could be leaking or a problem with the expansion vessel. You can top up the pressure yourself — follow the manufacturer’s directions explicitly. Or you can get an engineer out to check what is happening. Especially if this isn’t the first time you’ve noticed the wrong pressure in your boiler.
Unusual Noises
Most people will know the noises and sounds their boiler emits. And there’s a predictable pattern of the hums, bangs and other noises associated with the boiler coming to life and radiators heating up. But anything different? It’s not a change of pace to mix things up; it’s a signal that something is going wrong. Rattling, excessive banging outside of the normal firing up process, or gurgling sounds are causes for concern and need further exploration.
Radiator Cold Spots
A quick and easy check is to touch all of your radiators when they’re on, carefully or warming up. You’re looking for uneven heating that leaves part of the radiator with cold spots. If the radiator is hot at the top and cold at the bottom or vice versa, you might need to bleed it or balance it. This helps to stop the system working overtime and allows radiators to deliver even heating in every room.
Test Control and Thermostat
You should know how to check all of the controls on your boiler so you can ensure they’re all working correctly. Use the manufacturer’s handbook. And go through each one to make sure they work, ie the thermostat is set correctly, and the boiler responds to temperature changes.
If they don’t respond immediately, you might need to get things checked, as it could indicate a wiring issue. If you have regular boiler service, your engineer will notice anything different, and you can get it rectified sooner rather than later when the entire system fails.
Leaks and Damp Check
Take some time to fully inspect the areas around your boiler pipes and flue. There should be no leaks at all, never mind damp spots. But if there is a leak, it could impact your system if it gets too severe. You’ll need to pinpoint the cause and fix it. Alternatively, it could mean your boiler has a leak, which is extremely concerning and needs checking. If you notice the leak is coming from your boiler, turn off all water and gas and call for an engineer immediately.
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