5 Summer Boiler Tips
How to maintain your boiler this summer to prevent problems in the autumn
In the chilly winter months, central heating is crucial, but many of us neglect it during the summer as long as we have access to hot water. However, as reactive heating professionals, the autumn is one of our busiest seasons since customers start turning on their heating again as the weather cools, which is when boiler problems frequently rear their ugly heads.
The good news is that this can be avoided. You can increase the likelihood of a switch-on without problems in September or October by taking care of a few straightforward items throughout the summer
1. figuring out the best method for turning off the heating
The best approach to turn off the heating should be decided upon as soon as you no longer require it due to warmer weather. There are more options than you may imagine in this situation. For example, you could entirely turn off the boiler and rely on a different source of hot water, such an immersion heater. You might switch off the heating by setting the boiler to provide hot water only. You may keep your heating on while using the thermostatic valves on each radiator to turn them all off. Alternately, you could leave the boiler’s heating on while lowering the thermostat so that it would only switch on when the temperature was really low. Which is best, though?
The best approach is not the most economical because you may heat water more cheaply with your boiler than with an immersion heater. The others really revolve around personal preference. If you entirely turn off the heating, you won’t have to worry about it turning on when you’re not there or don’t need it (like when you’re on vacation). Turn all thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to maximum if you do this since it lowers the possibility that the pins may adhere to the valve seats and prevent the valves from opening when the power is turned back on.
If you still need heat in some rooms, such as on a towel warmer in the bathroom, you can utilise the heating while turning the TRVs off. If you choose to do this, you might need to change the timer because you will probably only use it for a few period each day. You might also want to turn it off when you are on vacation.
During the summer, keeping the heating on while lowering the thermostat can help keep the boiler running smoothly, but there is a chance that it can periodically kick on when you least expect it.
2. During the summer, occasionally turn on the heating
Although it may seem counterintuitive in the heat of the summer because you won’t need the heating, you would actually be doing your boiler a favour by merely turning it on for a few minutes once a month. Being fully inactive for months can cause a boiler’s many moving parts to seize up, which is the most frequent problem we encounter in September and October. The likelihood of issues in the autumn is greatly decreased by briefly turning on the heating to keep them moving.
Of course, you won’t need to do this if you left the heater on in any of the ways mentioned in item 1.
3. Schedule boiler maintenance
Theoretically, as long as it’s done around the same time of year, it doesn’t really matter when you service boilers; they actually only need it once a year. Nevertheless, there are a few benefits to practising it in the summer. First of all, heating engineers are far less in demand than they are during the winter, making it simpler to arrange an appointment and decreasing the likelihood that emergencies may force a rescheduling. Additionally, you won’t be dependent on it for heating while work is being done, making it more handy if you decide to perform some preventative maintenance (more on that in a moment). For the same reasons, it is also simpler in the summer if you decide to replace the boiler.
4. Take preventive upkeep into account
Boilers are intricate machinery, and good maintenance is beneficial for any mechanical or technical equipment (consider how often you change the oil in your automobile). This entails, at the very least, a yearly service, but there are additional things you can do to maintain it effectively and increase its longevity. This includes things you can do on your own, like bleeding your radiators, as well as things your heating engineer can do for you, like adding an inhibitor (which stops sludge from accumulating) or performing a powerflush (which removes sludge that has already accumulated). These can frequently be completed concurrently with boiler maintenance.
5. Think about wise choices
The same way that summer is a great time to work on the boiler, it’s also a fantastic time to think about if becoming a little “smarter” would be beneficial. For some years now, OFTEC (the trade organisation that represents the oil heating industry) has been pressing people to embrace smart systems. You have considerably more control over your heating thanks to smart thermostats like Nest and Hive, which allow you to manage it from anywhere with your phone (learn more about smart thermostats here). You might also want to think about this if you don’t already have a smart metre (see the benefits and drawbacks of a smart metre).
Call us at 07852 238167 or fill out the contact form if you have any questions or would like to schedule a boiler service or other boiler maintenance.