Have you checked the condition of your boiler? Taking proactive steps to look after your boiler can improve its efficiency and life span, saving a lot of time and money.

These are our tips & tricks to keeping your boiler healthy

When the sun is shining, the last thing you’ll want to think about is your central heating system. But a little maintenance in early Autumn is the best way to prevent any faults occurring in time for those harsh winters.  Take a look at our expert tips & advice to ensure your boiler keeps you warm this winter.

Bleed Radiators

Check the temperature of your radiators, if they are cooler at the bottom than they are at the top, they will have air trapped inside them and will need bleeding. Radiators that need bleeding prevent your heating system from running to its maximum efficiency and make your heating system work harder to heat your house, costing you money.



You can bleed your radiators by using a radiator key to turn the valve on the side of the radiator anti clockwise until you hear a hissing sound, this is the air coming out of the radiators. When the hissing noise stops turn the radiator key in the opposite direct to close the valve. Be sure to grab an old cloth and to protect the carpet with plastic to catch any water that escapes. Once you have bled the radiators check the temperature again and ensure the radiators are now hot all the way to the top. After the radiators have been bled you will need to check the pressure gauge on the boiler as it is likely the pressure will drop and you may need to refill it – see below.

Checking the boiler pressure

Boilers lose pressure over time. When the boiler is on, check the pressure gauge to ensure that it is not to low, your manufacturers manual will give you instructions on the correct pressure levels for your boiler and how to top it up. Alternatively you can give Davidsons a call on 0117 203 4422 we will be happy to help you with this.

Turn the heating on

Turning your heating on every now and again for 15 minutes or so can help with the running of your boiler as boilers that are left off for large amounts of time can seize up.

Clear the clutter

If your boiler is in a cupboard, make sure there is sufficient space around it so the boiler can properly ventilate. Remove any coats, bags, shoes etc that might be surrounding it.

Check the flue is accessible

Regulations state that flues are to be inspected at every metre or on every joint, meaning that for any flues that disappear into the ceiling or a void, access panels must be installed. A damaged joint can leak carbon monoxide so it is important to ensure this can be checked. Give Davidson a call on 0117 230 4422 we will be happy to install access panels for you.

Lag your pipes

When the outside temperature drops, any external pipework can freeze and cause the boiler to shut off. You can unfreeze the pipes by pouring warm water over them, but you can prevent this from happening by lagging your external pipework. The most common boiler fault in the winter is a frozen condensate pipe.

Look for the blue flame

The flame on your boiler should be blue. If it is yellow or orange you will need to call a Gas Safe Engineer straight away to get it checked. A yellow or orange flame means your boiler is faulty. You can give Davidsons a call on 0117 203 4422 we will be happy to help.

Annual boiler service

Getting an annual boiler service is vital to keeping your boiler in its best condition and can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you haven’t had your boiler serviced yet this year, its a good idea to call a Gas Safe Registered engineer to book this in. A skilled Gas Safe engineer will check your boiler is in good working order and can make adjustments to the running of your boiler to ensure that it is running at its peak efficiency.

They will also clean any parts that have gathered dirt and debris, a build up of grime can lead to an inefficient boiler as well as broken parts in the future. You can call Davidsons on 0117 203 4422 to book in a boiler service at a time and date that suits you, our office team will be more than happy to help. Alternatively you can fill out our online booking form below:

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