When the warmer months finally arrive, it can be easy to forget about a boiler as more time is spent outside and the heating the home becomes less essential, however the summer months are prime time to undertake necessary visual checks and maintenance tasks.
Completing a boiler checklist in the summer can help prepare the boiler for the forthcoming winter, ensuring that it is in the best condition to get through the next season.
We will be discussing why it is best to go through a summer checklist on your boiler, what elements to review and why there are advantages to completing the annual boiler maintenance within the warmer months.
Why Undertake Maintenance During the Summer?
If your boiler has made it through the heavy use, winter months without a breakdown, it may have been many months since it was inspected by a registered Gas Safe engineer.
As boiler brain mentions during the summer it is easier to get an appointment for an annual service with a qualified heating engineer as they are in less demand over the summer when heating becomes less essential.
In addition, by booking a service over the summer, there is more time to resolve any issues found including sources parts and booking time with the engineer to fit them.
Furthermore, if there is any downtime for the boiler while parts are being replaced, living without heating and hot water is slightly less challenging without freezing conditions.
Summer Boiler Checklist
Tip 1 – Get to Know Your Boiler
If you have moved property recently, you may be unfamiliar with the current boiler. It is recommended that homeowners or tenants get to know their boilers by researching the boiler model and reviewing the instructions either within the boiler’s manual or via finding them online.
When undertaking research, it would be useful to discover the age of the boiler, often by researching the manufacturer’s model range and their popular selling dates, in order to establish roughly how long the boiler may be operational for.
Differing boilers will have different life spans depending on the quality of components inside, the level of wear and tear that has taken place and the maintenance that has been undertaken in order to take care of the boiler and prolong its life, however as a general rule combi-boilers for example may last 8-12 years.
In addition, it would be worth taking the time to complete visual inspections of any system that you are unfamiliar with, checking the pipework condition, discovering the location of any water tanks, reviewing insulation on pipework and tanks and looking for any signs of leaks.
If any signs of damage or leaks are found, please contact Gas Safe registered heating engineer who can test the system as well as provide a quote for any repair work needed.
It is highly recommended that a household member takes responsibility for undertaking regular inspections in order to monitor the condition of the boiler, heating system and tanks (if applicable). When a heating system is in a good condition, it will work more effectively and therefore save the household money from wasting energy or leaking water.
However, if you have moved in and either the boiler is on its last legs, has already given up or has been condemned by a Gas Safe registered heating engineer it is likely to be time to shop for a new boiler.
There are a range of ways that a new boiler can be sourced these days; directly from a manufacturer, supplied by a big energy company, supplied by a small independent company or purchased online.
Tip 2 – Keep an Eye on the Pressure
Boilers require a specific pressure internally in order to work effectively. If the pressure is too high or too low, damage can occur to the internal parts of the boiler or throughout the heating system.
A pressure issue may represent itself by the heating or hot water not working or the pressure reading is out of the ideal range as shown on the pressure dial or digital display panel. In order to protect the internal components from damage from too much or too little pressure, the boiler should shut down and display an error code within the digital display panel.
It is a common problem for all types of boilers to suffer from pressure issues every now and then, although some makes and models are more susceptible, therefore it’s a good idea to know the common signs of a boiler pressure issue as well as establishing the optimum pressure settings for your boiler.
The correct pressure settings for your specific make and model of boiler can be found within the boiler’s user manual, or if this is not available, they can often be found online.
If the pressure is too low, follow the user manual instructions on how to top up the pressure within the unit by using the internal filling loop.
Once the pressure is restored, keep an eye on the readings to ensure that the pressure top up is not just a temporary fix, and an underlying issue isn’t occurring. Sometimes a boiler with low pressure can limp along however the performance of the system will drop, and the energy efficiency will also decrease, therefore costing the household in more energy to operate the system.
If the pressure continues to drop, there could be a fault internally with one of the boilers components, therefore a Gas Safe registered heating engineer will need to be called in order to investigate further.
If however, the boiler pressure is too high, it would be advisable to bleed the radiators to relieve some pressure. This is a fairly simple process that can often be undertaken yourself by using a radiator key in an anti-clockwise direction in order to open the bleed valve, releasing any trapped air.
Remember to prepare the area underneath each radiator with either plastic sheets or old towels before attempting to bleed the radiators, as well as ensuring that the valved are closed back up when any excess has been released and the hissing sound stops.
There are plenty of videos available online on how to undertake this process however if you are not feeling confident, call a professional to assist.
During times when the boiler is running smoothly, it is recommended that homeowners or tenants should keep an eye on the pressure readings on the boiler and undertake visual inspections for signs of any leaks.
Tip 3 – Book an Annual Service
As we have briefly mentioned, the summer months are an ideal time to book an annual boiler service.
Annual boiler services are a legal requirement in properties that are rented out, however all homeowners are encouraged to book these important appointments in with a Gas Safe registered heating engineer to ensure that the boiler’s internal parts are in a good working order as well as ensuring the safety of the boiler itself.
In addition, an annual service is essential when the boiler is still within the warranty period in order to keep the manufacturer’s warranty valid.
Furthermore, the tests and checks that a professional undertakes can detect any issues that may cause a boiler breakdown within the coming months, ensuring that they are addressed in a cost effective and safe manner without the nuisance of a breakdown.
Should The Heating be Turned off?
It may be tempting during the warmer summer months to consider turning off the heating altogether, however this is not recommended.
If a boiler is not run for a long period of time the internal components may become stuck and therefore may not work again when the boiler is needed in the autumn.
Therefore, instead of turning the boiler off completely, it is recommended that the thermostat be turned down low or the timer settings changed to reduce the duration of time that a boiler is due to be running for.
Summer Boiler Checklist Summary
We have covered some top tips in order to make the most of the warmer months when there is less demand on both the heating system and professional heating engineers in order to prime the boiler ready for the next winter ahead.
