Boiler Repair and Heating Tips

Heat-Tec > Boiler Repair and Heating Tips

Common Boiler Problems and How to Solve Them

Before you call, do the following:

Check you have electricity – If your boiler has light showing, then you have electricity.

Check you have gas – Check that the meter valve is open and the valve under the boiler is open. If you have a gas cooker, you should check to see if this still works.

Check the pressure gauge – This should be between 1.0 and 1.5. Check for sploshing sounds inside.

Check the outdoor pipe – If this has frozen then you will need to pour warm water over the whole pipe until it thaws out.

If you are still unsure whether your boiler is working or not, feel free to get in touch.

Your Questions Answered

Below you will find some of the questions we receive on a regular basis and the answers to them too.

Q: Why are my radiators hot at the top and cold at the bottom?

A: This happens when there is air trapped in the top of the radiator. You will need to vent the air out by doing the following:

  • Make sure the radiators are cold before you start
  • Get a tea towel and a vent key
  • Make sure the boiler pressure is around 1.5 bar
  • Beed downstairs radiators and then the upstairs after
  1. Hold the tea towel near the vent and apply the vent key
  2. Open the vent by turning the key anti-clockwise half a turn
  3. If water appears, shut the vent, the radiator is OK
  4. If air comes out of the vent, wait until water appears and then close the vent again.
  5. Return to your boiler and put it back to 1.5 bar again.
  6. Repeat steps 1-5 for all downstairs radiators
  7. Repeat steps 1-5 for all upstairs radiators

Repeat these steps at least once a year.

Q: Why doesn’t my water get as hot in the winter? This is when I need it most.

A: The average temperature of the water that passes through your boiler is a lot cooler in the winter than the summer. In the winter the average temperature of the water that passes through the boiler is around 6 degrees C, in comparison to a 15 degrees C average in the summer.

If you turn up the hot water temperature on the boiler and turn down the flow of the hot water tap more, you will find that the water has more time to get hot as it passes through your boiler at a slower rate.

Q: How can I save energy?

There are a few things you can do to save energy and in turn, money. We have listed a few of the key things you can do below:

Heat-Tec’s Top Tips for Saving Energy

  • Fit a room stat. Without one, your boiler will use more energy.
  • Try turning your stat right down to 1 degree C, rather than 17-22. If it’s comfortable to live in still, there’s no reason for your stat to be so high.
  • Why turn the heating on when you can put a jumper on or snuggle under a quilt? There are other ways to keep warm besides your central heating.
  • Check that your loft is well insulated. This will keep the heat inside the house when you use it, rather than heating the air outside.
  • Reflective sheets can be fitted behind radiators to ensure heat bounces back into the room, rather than heating up the wall behind it.
  • Get your boiler serviced. This will ensure it is running smoothly and is set to suit your needs. This can save you money in the long run as small faults can be detected before they turn into much larger ones.
  • Turn electricity off at the plug! Things that are left on standby will use energy too, so it’s worthwhile turning things off while you sleep or while you are at home.
  • Your energy supplier might have something to do with it. Try asking around for quotes to see if you can save money.
  • If your supplier charges less for ‘off peak’ times, then use all powerful machines, such as washing machines, during these hours. If it helps to save you money, then surely it’s worth doing?

How can we help?

Whether you are looking for a new boiler or you are having problems with your current boiler and you need it fixing, Heat-Tec can assist you. Our dedicated engineers are here to help in any way we can, offering a range of services that includes boiler installation in the Bromley and Croydon areas, as well as central heating installations and boiler servicing.

Contact us today to book a home visit or to get a quote. We look forward to your call!