Following our popular article on how to prevent your pipes from freezing written last winter, we thought you might like an advanced heads up on how to keep your property warm this winter.

Firstly, we need to understand what type of boiler / heating system you have in the property.

There are 2 main types of heating systems:

1. A Combination Boiler System
2. A Conventional / Standard Central Heating System

What is the difference between a Combination Boiler and a Conventional Boiler?

Combination Boiler System

Or Combi System heats water ‘instantaneously’ whenever you turn on a hot tap, so you’ll never run out of hot water.  In most cases the temperature of the tap is dependent on the temperature of the mains supply and the flow rate, hence hot water performance is quoted in terms of litres per minute raised through 35 degrees C.  It can take 2 – 3 times longer to fill up a bath full of hot water.  Newer models of combination boilers have a small storage cylinder to help deliver higher flow rates.

The advantages of a Combination Boiler are, on demand hot water, no storage tank in the loft, less pipe work in the property, and a smaller amount of space is required.

The disadvantages of a Combination Boiler are,  limited hot water temperature, one tap operation, no back up if the boiler stops working and is dependent on water mains pressure.

Conventional or Standard Central Heating System

Stores hot water in a hot water cylinder which is usually found in an airing cupboard.  This hot water is used when you turn on the hot water tap.  The system also stores cold water in a storage tank, usually found in your loft.  The boiler heats this water which is then fed to the radiators keeping your house warm.

The advantages of a Conventional Heating System include being able to use more than one tap at a time without affecting the water pressure, an airing cupboard (handy to dry your towells in)and an improved all round water pressure.

The main disadvantages of a Conventional Heating System is the fact that you do not have instant hot water so if your tank runs empty because someone else had a bath, you have to wait a while for the water to heat up again.

What is a Condensing Boiler?

A condensing boiler is the most efficient type of boiler because they extract the maximum amount of heat from the fuel burnt.  A condensing boiler can operate at efficiency levels of over 90% by recovering and recycling heat that would otherwise be lost through the flue.  Due the the efficiency of the burning gas, they also produce less Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulpher Dioxide emmissions so they are descibed as Green or environmentally friendly.

These boilers can either be Standard / Conventional or Combination Boilers.

Boilers account for around 60 per cent of all domestic CO2 emmissions.

If you wanted to cut your monthly spend and reduce the amount of gas emmissions from your property, a high efficiency condensing boiler with heating controls could  save you up to £180 a year, and significantly reduce your home’s emmissions.

Now we know a little about boilers, how can we make sure they are well maintained?

Try the following top tips to keep your home’s heating healthy. It’s also a good idea to look into Annual Boiler Servicing – when it comes to heating repairs prevention is definitely cheaper than cure.

Central heating troubles can be tricky to solve because the problem could be a number of things that only a professional should tackle. If in doubt, call in a Gas Safe Register* approved Heating Engineer for a safe repair

If you a smell gas leak, contact the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

To protect your home against sudden problems that can hit the pocket hard, you might like to choose Gas Boiler Cover or Central Heating Cover.

Do’s & Don’ts

• Run your heating at least once a month, even in summer, to keep it running efficiently and clear the boiler pump of any grit that gathers when it’s not in use.
• Homeowners should get their boilers checked once a year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer to ensure it’s running both smoothly and safely.
• If you’re renting your home, it’s your Landlord’s Responsibility to get all gas appliances, including the boiler, inspected every year. By law he/she should provide you with a copy of their CP12 Gas Safety Certificate.
• For added safety, it’s a good idea to fit a Carbon Monoxide Detector to warn you if there’s a leak. If so, call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.
• Never cover your gas boiler or block the air vents. Also, make sure the outside flues aren’t blocked.

How to Bleed your Radiators

Trapped air prevents radiators heating up fully, so if your radiators feel cooler at the top than at the bottom, it’s likely that a bit of air has got stuck in them. Luckily – getting the air out of the radiator – “bleeding” it – is as simple as it gets.

Plumbing:
How To Bleed A Radiator
How To Bleed A Radiator

Step 1- First, switch off the circulation pump or just switch off the whole boiler, so there’s no chance of you getting splashed.

Step 2 - Each radiator has a bleed valve at one of its top corners, identifiable by a square bit in the middle of the round plug. They’re turned by specific keys which are easy enough to buy at any DIY shop if you can’t find them.

Step 3 - Use the key to turn the valve anticlockwise about a quarter of a turn. It shouldn’t be necessary to turn it further – but have a small container and a couple of rags handy to catch spurting water in case you open the valve too far.

Step 4 – You will hear a hissing sound as the air escapes. Keep the key on the shank of the valve, then when the hissing stops and the first dribble of water appears, close the valve tightly.

Step 5 – If no water or air comes out when you bleed the radiator, then the valve is probably blocked with paint. Close the inlet and outlet valve at each end of the radiator, then remove the screw from the centre of the bleed valve. Clear the hole wiith a piece of wire, and reopen one of the radiator valves slightly to eject some water from the hole. Close the radiator valve again and refit the screw in the bleed valve. Open both radiator valves and test the bleed valve again. Another job well done.