The first cold snap is when most boilers fail, often after sitting idle all summer. A few simple checks now can save you a chilly wait in December.
Give Your Heating a Test Run
Turn the heating on for 30 minutes on a mild day. Every radiator should warm evenly. When the system is cold, your boiler pressure should usually sit between 1 and 1.5 bar. Banging, gurgling, or a yellow flame instead of a blue one all mean it’s time to call an engineer. It’s far easier to get booked in now than in the winter rush.
Sort Out Cold Radiators
If a radiator is cold at the top, it usually has trapped air, which you can fix by bleeding it. If it’s cold at the bottom, sludge is the likely cause. Bleeding won’t shift sludge, but a power flush clears the whole system and gets the heat moving again.
Book Your Annual Service
A yearly service keeps your boiler safe, efficient and covered by its warranty. Our engineers carry out flue gas analysis, a gas pressure test and a filter clean. Always check your engineer is on the Gas Safe Register. MPW Group’s registration number is 575088. Our ProPlan care plans start from £11.99 a month.
Be Ready for Emergencies
Find your stopcock now, so you can turn off the water quickly if a pipe bursts. It’s also worth lagging any exposed pipes in lofts and garages. If you smell gas, turn the supply off at the meter, open the windows and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Don’t wait for the first frost to find a fault. Call 0117 939 1421 to book your boiler service, or reach our 24/7 emergency team any time.