Why service your boiler?
Most of us don’t pay any attention to our boiler until it breaks down. Prevention is better than cure so make sure to schedule an annual maintenance check. Here’s why:
1) Save money on repairs and emergency call-out fees. An engineer will pick up on any minor faults, which if left unrepaired, could cause major problems in the future.
2) A service could save your life – a faulty boiler can be extremely dangerous; around 20 people die every year in the UK from Carbon Monoxide (CO) leaks caused by faulty gas boilers and appliances.
3) Reduce your fuel bills – an engineer will make sure your boiler isn’t wasting energy.
4) Stay legal – landlords are legally obliged to service boilers in their rental properties every year and must provide a valid Gas Safety certificate for gas boilers.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
This can be caused by incorrect installation of appliances and their flues. Incorrect ventilation and lack of servicing can also cause an appliance to burn incorrectly. If flames appear lazy and yellow and appliances are surrounded by large amounts of soot, these are tell-tale signs that CO is being produced.
Exposure to Carbon Monoxide can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, and severe cases can lead to convulsions
and even death.
Ensure that all appliances are serviced on a regular basis, and fit a CO alarm, making sure that it meets the EN50291 Standard.
Burst Pipes
Don\'t panic! Turn off all stop valves (stop cocks) which are often sited under the kitchen sink. If the escaping water cannot be controlled immediately, open all cold water taps so that the pipework and storage system drains quickly. DO NOT TURN ON HOT TAPS. Turn off the central heating system and, if it uses a solid fuel boiler, allow the fire to die out. Switch off any electric immersion heater, then call XL Plumbing & Heating 07738 726803 or 01454 613 251.
Regular checks and servicing
- Service heating appliances yearly.
- Know where your stop valve is and check that it is working. Prevent it seizing with a squirt of WD40 now and again.
- Check the condition of flexible hosepipes to plumbed-in domestic appliances.
- Dripping taps are a sign that your plumbing requires maintenance.
- Check outside taps have been isolated and, if possible, drained.
Plumbing tips
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