Category: Boiler Services

We didn’t get a white Christmas but are we going to get some in January? We can’t be sure, but the last thing you want is to be without central heating when this happens. In the past many homeowners across Coventry & Warwickshire have been caught out by the milder winters but when the cold snap appears that are often caught out, literally in the cold.

For most Christmas is expensive enough without the need for call out charges at this time of year for boiler breakdowns or central heating faults, sometimes it can’t be helped, especially if a Gas Safe Engineer or Electrician is needed but here are some tips on helping your central heating running and keeping you warm through January.

5 tips on keeping your central heating running

1 – Keeping your condensation pipe from freezing

In freezing temperatures even the best-maintained boiler will struggle to function if its condensate pipe freezes. Luckily, it’s not a difficult job to put things right if it does happen. To prevent the pipe from freezing again make sure you insulate the pipe by wrapping it in some old towels or rags immediately to prevent it from freezing. If you’re able too, get to your local DIY store and buy some foam pipe insulation. This usually comes in a variety of sizes so bear in mind to measure it before you buy it. When measured and cut, wrap the condensation pipe in the insulation and this should help prevent the pipe from freezing

2 – Turn up your Boiler Thermostat

During a really cold it may help to run the heating system with the boiler thermostat set to maximum. This is not the room thermostat normally located somewhere in one of your main rooms. This is the thermostat that is located actually on your boiler. Once the really cold snap is over turn the thermostat back to its usual setting.

3 – Keep your boiler on ‘constant’

As a temporary measure it may also help to keep your central heating on a constant setting (24hr) as opposed to the timer setting. However keep your room thermostat on a slightly lower temperature of around 15oC. We certainly recommend this as an ongoing solution, as it goes against the idea of having an energy efficient boiler, but as a temporary fix, its worth doing.

4 – Get your boiler serviced

If at any time you need your boiler to be working at it’s during the winter months. In most cases boiler breakdown problems occur because of common faults and usually because it hasn’t been serviced for some time. Like a car, your boiler needs to be serviced on a regular basis. Getting your boiler serviced before it gets too cold would be advisable before problems start occurring.

5 – Power Flushing

If you’ve got an older central heating system over time this can become inefficient because of blocked pipes, preventing radiators from heating up correctly. A black sludge can build up in your central heating system and can cause your radiators to get cold spots. Getting rid of these cold spots is fairly easy with an effective technique called Power Flushing. Water and cleaning chemicals are pumped through your radiators at high pressure which flushes out any build-up of dirt, often a back sludge that is causing a blockage. By Power Flushing all your radiators, you will be making your central heating system more efficient which will save you money on your heating bills and potential money spent on central heating repairs. Above all else its keeping you warm through January

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Why your boiler becomes inefficient?

When first installed a new central heating system normally consists a new boiler, radiators, pipe-work and an easy to use thermostat to control your heating system. Some years later problems start arising particularly at this time of the year, when you go to switch your boiler on for the first time for the winter. In most cases, after some time radiators have dis-colored and the pipework has now filled with a thick, black sludge that you can’t see.

This black sludge is typically know as iron oxide which is mainly ‘rust’ that has broken or fallen away from the inside of the radiators or other components of the your central heating system.  The effect of this is no different to you or I have a bad diet of fatty foods, it makes things far less efficient and shortens the life expectancy. As with most things in life prevention is better than cure, however, in both cases there are things that can be done to solve these issues.

Adding an Inhibitor to your system

The first thing to do is to add an Inhibitor to your system this prevents the metal in your central system from rusting in the first place. It does this is by coating the surface of the metal and stops it from reacting with anything else. Inhibitors are manufactured by companies such as Fernox and Sentinel

Removing the sludge for your system with Magnaclean

The second thing to do is remove the sludge from your central heating system. This sludge is a mix of metal oxides, it is magnetic; a fact that most people had known for as long as Central Heating systems had been around. However, like with most things in life, the simple ideas are always the best, it was only recently that Adey Ltd came up with a gadget for removing this magnetic sludge, which they called the “Magnaclean”. 

What does Magnaclean do?

As the name suggests, this ingenues idea, is simply a magnet that sits in your Central Heating system and cleans the water that runs past it by making all the metal oxides stick to the magnet. When the magnet is completely covered you just take it out, clean it and put it back in again.

Of course the Magnaclean does not stop your system rusting away, it merely reduces the damage caused by this rust; so you need to use an “inhibitor” as well. Ah, some of you may be saying, if I’m using inhibitor I won’t be getting any sludge, so I don’t need a Magnaclean!

Absolutely right, but how do you know if you have enough inhibitor in your system? At the very least you could look upon the magnaclean as a window into the health of your central heating system.

How can it benefit you?

MagnaClean Professional is a proven, high efficiency, full-flow magnetic filter designed to tackle all central heating systems removing virtually 100% of the suspended black iron oxide.  The benefits of this 

• Reduces ongoing maintenance and heating energy costs
• Improves your central heating and boiler efficiency 
• Reduces carbon emissions carbon emissions 
• Provides immediate results and system protection following installation
• No ongoing running costs
• Long operational life AND guaranteed for TWO years

My boiler isn’t working!

During September & October we’re finding this is the most common problem homeowners are having at the moment. With an unpredictable winter on the way the last thing most homeowners want is to switch on the central heating and fine the boiler isn’t working. At that particular moment there is nothing more frustrating and sometimes costly for your boiler to go on the blink! our advice is to be aware of costly call out or emergency charges. Our recommendation is always ask the engineer or company to explain how they charge for the services they provide before you call them out or they start working on your boiler or any of your gas appliances.

Amongst problems with boiler breakdowns and servicing we are also seeing a lot of people across Coventry & Warwickshire asking for advice on the following Central Heating, Gas and Underfloor subjects. We thought we’d give some of those visitors some advice on these areas, what to look out for and where we can help you.

1. Central Heating Services Coventry
2. Valliant Boilers Coventry
3. Best Combination boiler 2011
4. Boiler Installation Coventry
5. Gas Engineer Coventry, Leamington Spa
6. Heating and Ventilation Coventry
7. Pressure relief pipe installation
8. Underfloor Heating Engineers Warwickshire
9. Replace open vent boiler with combi boiler
10. Best Valliant boiler for me

If there is anything else you would like advice on please either contact us or comment below. We’d be happy to hear from you and if its something we don’t specialise in we can point you in the right direction.

Boiler Breakdown Services in Coventry

On being called out to a Ariston boiler breakdown in the Coventry area, we came across a novel way someone has connected the pressure relief pipe, in addition to this the outer casing was stuck on with tape. They had used a ‘Garden Hose’ to connect two copper pipes. This is surely a case for Rogue Traders!!!

Coventry & Warwickshire Homeowners

Coventry and Warwickshire homeowners please make sure you use a gas safe registered engineer. Look at our Gas Safe Engineer Tips or contact us for Advice

Coventry & Warwickshire Vaillant Boiler Specialists

• No Call out charges
• Gas Safe Engineers
• All labour Guaranteed
• 7 Year Parts & Labour Guarantee on Vaillent Boilers
• Professional Staff with over 35 Years Experience

Replacing your old boiler with a new Combi boiler will give you the following benefits:

• This system supplies hot water on demand
• The central heating system works through this system
• These are the most popular boiler type
• Combi boilers heat the water direct from the supply
• Can be more energy efficient than other boiler types
• Do not require storage space
• Eliminates the heat loss process  that you would find with regular copper cylinder system (Traditional heating systems store heated water in a copper cylinder situated within an airing cupboard within the property)

Contact Hunt Heating for a Free Advice and Quotation to replace your old boiler