With the cost of living crisis looming, it is vital we ensure our home’s heating systems are working effectively before winter sets in. A cost-effective way to do this is to maintain your home’s heating system over time, instead of waiting for a problem to crop up. A boiler left unserviced can cause problems throughout your home, disrupting the flow of hot water, heat and the functioning of appliances like washing machines. Regular upkeep means you won’t get hit with a hefty boiler replacement fee after years of neglecting the system.
Common Boiler Issues
A lack of regular checkups means a problem with your boiler will most likely crop up sooner rather than later. There are a few common issues you can look out for which suggest you need to book in a boiler check-up with a specialist.
General Wear and Tear
Like most home appliances, boilers are not immune from simple wear and tear. The central heating system and boiler within our homes are constantly working, supplying water where it is needed, heating radiators, giving us hot showers and so on. With proper care and routine checkups, a good-quality boiler can last for between 15 and 20 years. If you have an old boiler which hasn’t been serviced in a while and is approaching the 10-year mark, you may want to consider replacing it with a boiler which is more energy efficient in the near future. However, regular boiler services will be able to tell you how healthy your boiler is despite its age.
Thermostat Issues
A faulty or defunct thermostat reader will not prevent hot water from coming out of your taps, but it will make life a lot more difficult. A malfunctioning thermostat can falsely read your boiler’s temperature and pressure, meaning the dial doesn’t correctly alert you to a fault. A faulty thermostat can also cause your boiler to shut down as it thinks it is overheating, these shutdowns can shock the boiler and affect its performance when turned back on. More so, a faulty thermostat can also lead to extreme temperatures of hot and cold in your home.
Limescale and Mineral Deposits
When anything holds water for an extended period of time, limescale and mineral deposits will naturally follow, building up if left unattended. If these deposits are not routinely removed, they can build up over time causing steam to form within your boiler. This can lead to whistling or banging sounds indicating that pressure is building within the boiler that cannot be released. This is called ‘kettling’, it starts out innocently but quickly can get quite dangerous.
Water Leaks
Leaks are more prevalent in older boilers, as fixings have begun to loosen and become weaker over time. If you see a water pool around your boiler or radiators, consider booking a check-up immediately to find the source of the problem. Fixing a leak only becomes more expensive the longer it is left.
Looking After Your Boiler
The best way to ensure your boiler stays healthy and happy for as long as possible is to regularly book a boiler service. Servicing your boiler regularly will highlight any faults or blockages, giving you time to rectify or repair any wear and tear before the problem gets worse. It will ultimately lower your energy bills as a well-running machine needs less fuel consumption to operate. For a cost-effective and professional service, contact the experts at Aspect for more information.
