Central heating maintenance

Date published: 6th January 2014

Many customers ask us how they can keep their household bills down and prolong the life of their central heating system. There are several things you can do to achieve both of these.

Regular servicing

Organising an annual central heating system service is a very good idea, especially if you have a slightly older boiler. A thorough service will check your system for any minor faults that can quickly develop into major and costly problems. Some faults, if left undetected, can lead to a complete breakdown of your system which is a total nightmare.

Your local plumbing company should provide this service – just make sure you check that they’re Gas Safe registered.

Power flushing

Power flushing should be performed at regular intervals to keep your central heating system running smoothly. The action will remove any potentially corrosive sludge that can get stuck in the pipes and case long-term damage to your system. A power flush is the act of forcing water through the system at a speed that is effective but a pressure that is non-damaging. Some plumbers will use cleansing agents to ensure the system is properly cleared out.

If you’re having your boiler replaced, it’s important to have a power flush performed so that your existing system won’t cause any damage to the new boiler.

Checking your radiators

It’s wise to regularly check that the heat in your radiators is being distributed evenly. If you notice that the top of your radiator is hot but the bottom is cold,  you’ll need to bleed your radiator to try and fix the problem.

If uneven heat distribution persists, you will need to call in an engineer to check out your system for possible problems.These could lead to the eventual breakdown of your system so it’s wise to get it sorted as soon as possible.

Strange noises

When you turn your heating on, if you’re hearing rattling or clanging noises, these could point to a fault in the system. A common cause of these noises is a build up of sludge that needs blasting out of your system ASAP. It could also point to a build up of air in your central heating system. Either way, you need to get a heating engineer out pronto to check your system over.

Don’t go too high

By keeping your thermostat on a reasonably low level (ideally between 18-20 degrees), your boiler won’t have to work quite so hard and therefore will last a lot longer. This has the additional benefit of keeping your bills down.

Funny stains and marks

Inspect your boiler regularly for strange stains or marks. These could indicate that there is a leak and this could have massive implications. If you spot anything strange, you need to call out your heating engineer as soon as possible.

Following this advice will help ensure that your central heating system goes the distance and you avoid being hit by massive bills in the future. If you’re worried about your central heating system, it’s always wise to call your local Plymouth heating engineer for advice.