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How To Fix A Boiler

A boiler is subjected to regular usage, working for a several hours a day and providing hot water for shower on a daily basis and even more so during winter. With it’s power and efficiency, we tend to postpone or even totally overlook its maintenance. However, no matter how good your boiler is, it consists of many moving components and it’ll certainly develop some faults some day. When the inevitable occurs, you might want to save some money and get it fixed all by yourself.

When it comes to fixing boilers, seeking help from a licensed heating engineer is usually the best solution, however at times you might be just lucky to be faced with minor issues which you should be able to handle yourself. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of a broken boiler and how you can get your heating system up and running again. Let’s have a look!

✓ Low system pressure. In the event whereby your boiler display a low system pressure, it could mean that the system is about to breakdown. You’ll have to carry out regular inspections on the pressure gauge to see if there’s any noticeable changes and call in a heating engineer immediately to prevent a system breakdown from happening.

✓ Poor heat production. Although this is unlikely to lead to any great issues, but it’ll reduce the effective functioning of your heating system. To prevent a debris build, it’s important to have your boiler cleaned regularly.

✓ Strange noises. Boilers often make noises, so there’s nothing to worry about unless it’s a banging or whistling noise that’s very odd , then there may be a serious issue. You’ll have to check the air intake, pressure, exhaust and piping to ensure they’re working just fine, if not there may be a need for replacement.

What Are The Best Electric Radiators?

Being afforded options in life is what we all seek. However, when the options are obviously too much, it can have a negative impact - exactly the case with electric radiators. With so many electric radiators in the market today, identifying the best and most suitable one for your home can be less helpful and extremely confusing, and even more so when you don’t know what you want. In a world filled with a huge selection of electric radiators, some designed for general heating while others are designed for more specific purposes, where would you get started? Here we’ve put together some of best electric radiators which you can put into consideration when making a decision. Let’s have a look!

• The Rointe D Series

The D series is one of the most popular electric radiators you’ll in the market today and deservedly so.with an advanced controllability via the Rointe Connect App and TFT control panel, these series have been rightly marked out as the most sophisticated electric radiator till date. What’s more? It’s suitable for both small, medium and large rooms, as it heats from 3m2 to about 16m2. The installation and programming of the Rointe D Series is very easy as it also enables a full access to every functions included as well as consumption costs.

• The Dimplex Q-Rad

As a high end heater, the Dimplex Q-Rad is one of the most popular brands. It is designed for a large room as it can heat up an area of about 20m2. The electric radiator features simple controls, sleek and good looks and works automatically all day.

• The Haverland RCTTi

This is conveniently one of the most efficient and reliable electric radiators you’ll find around. It stands out with the possession of its Dry Stone technology which works to ensure the room is kept at the right temperature.

• The Stiebel Eltron CND

Featuring a combined radiant and convection heating, this dual heat source is a very good option for homeowners with a tight budget. It works excellently to store heat which it later releases. The electric radiator also sense when the windows are open and react intelligently to the environment.

If you’re thinking about getting a new combi boiler, you may be wondering just how much it’s going to cost so as to start making preparations as soon as possible. However, providing a precise cost for the acquisition and installation of a new combi boiler is simply impossible as combi boiler prices vary greatly in price - usually ranging between £1500 to about £3500 based on the brand of the combi boiler, the insurance or warranty, installation, your location as well as the size and power of the appliance. Due to the fact that combi boilers are compact units which doesn’t need a hot water cylinder or a cold water tank to produce heating and hot water for homes, it’s a very popular type of boiler that’s frequently used especially in the UK.

Combi boilers are also widely known to be the most energy efficient type of boiler because they are able to provide an instant supply of hot water anytime you turn on a tap. Combi boilers particularly perfect for flats and houses where space is limited as they have the ability to deliver instant heating and hot water without requiring any extra parts or components.

In the event whereby you’re about to choose a combi boiler for your home or property, it’s always advisable to compare models as well as prices from only the most reliable and sought after brands across the globe. Depending on the manufacturer, the overall quality of the boilers as well as their prices can differ. However, regardless of your budget, you’ll discover there are a plethora of combi boilers available in the market that’ll also suit your taste.

Are Electric Radiators Expensive To Run?

Just like many home additions, the running costs of electric radiators varies largely on a number of factors. Great number of electric radiators typically comes with an in built thermostat which is designed to turn itself off automatically when not in use in order to save energy.

However the energy provider’s set electricity charge tariff will also have a great influence on an electric radiator’s running cost. Let’s take a look at the running costs of an electric radiator!

A 600 Watt electric radiator ( on a standard electricity tariff) will usually have a running cost ranging between 4 to 6 pence each hour. However you should also take note that this scenario might change in situations whereby the electric radiator is not calling for heat the full 60 minutes of each hour. And this is more likely to be the situation as the thermostat is programmed in such a way that enables it to turn itself off immediately there’s an achievement of your required room temperature level - usually within 10 minutes from the time it was switched on. As a result of this, the running cost per hour of electric radiators will be greatly reduced to just about 1 to 2 pence.

It’s also important to note that enhancing the insulation of your home can go a long way to add to the heat retention value of each room. Consequently, the duration at which the electric radiator calls more heating will be significantly reduced, which in turn, implies a lower electricity bill.

Another key factor that can play a huge role in saving on your heating bills is the programming as well as usage of your electric radiators. Every radiator comes with an independent digital thermostat with a number of 24/7 programming options to help achieve maximum efficiency. When the radiator is properly set according to your lifestyle, you can save as much as 50 percent on your heating bills.

When it comes to gas boilers, this is one of the most frequent questions that always pops up and for a good reason. When you invest a considerable amount of money to acquire and install a gas boiler in your business property, it’s only reasonable not only to expect the boiler to warm up your property efficiently, but also to do so for a long period of time. If you’ve just bought or about to get a new gas boiler, it’s likely you won’t have to worry about getting a replacement for a lengthy period of time. Several commercial gas boilers will last for anywhere between 10 to 15 years on the average. However in the event whereby you have an existing one that’s fast approaching the end of it’s useful life, then you should know the time go get a new gas boiler is just around the corner, and the earlier you make the purchase, the better (to avoid any surprise breakdowns that’ll leave your home super uncomfortable).

Just like any other home appliance, it’s a fact that an older gas boiler ( especially those that have been installed over a decade ago) are significantly less efficient that the new modern ones. When the older versions were manufactured is a completely different time to now as both technology and climate concerns are wide apart. So when your existing boiler is approaching the end of it’s useful life, it’ll be wise to start saving up to cover the cost of getting a new one. However, if it’s only about 5 years ago your boiler was installed, it’s highly likely to still be very efficient.

How Long Does A Boiler Service Take?

Servicing of your boiler is a very crucial activity which does not only help in keeping your heating system in a top condition, but also assists in ensuring the safety of both you and your loved ones. If you carry out a regular boiler service you’ll be able to identify any possible fault your boiler may have on time before it leads to a more serious issue or even a boiler breakdown. As a result, you’ll be able to save yourself some time and money, but more importantly will save you from any dangerous risk that may result from gas leak in a boiler. The best time for a boiler service is in the summer when you’d probably would not really need the system, so you can take advantage of that as well as the possible lower boiler servicing cost during this period.

Before we look into the amount of time a boiler service should take, let’s first consider what should be done during a boiler service.

✓ Visual inspection. This is a check carried out by the heating engineer to ensure your boiler still meet the existing standards and requirements while also looking for any faults.

✓ Removal of boiler casing. There’s the need to ensure everything is working just fine and also to clean the boiler’s interior. These inspections should include the burner, heat exchanger, main injector and spark probe.

✓ Flue check. This involves making sure that there’s no form of obstructions in the flue terminals as also to ensure that the flue is well installed.

✓ Gas pressure check. This involves making sure that the boiler working with the appropriate pressure.

✓ Boiler fired up. This involves checking for any operating issues.

Generally, a boiler service should be completed within 30 minutes, however this time may vary largely depending on the brand and model.

Breakdowns of boilers are quite common during the winter months and are usually very expensive to repair when this occurs. According to the research carried out recently by uSwitch, repairing a boiler can cost an average of about £314 with a figure over 20 percent of homes experiencing various heating system issues last year.

To answer the question of whether or not your existing home insurance will be enough to cover the boiler breakdown, the answer is probably not. This is due to the fact that heating system faults or breakdowns is a very common occurrence and as a result of poor maintenance practices as well as a high repair cost, several insurance companies often remove it from their home insurance policies.

Generally, you’d be given an option of what is termed as “emergency home cover which is an add on or extra to your home insurance policy. Luckily, this add on is quite inexpensive and may be as little as £4 or £5 per month. Depending on your need or budget, you can also purchase the add on as a “stand alone from your current insurer or another company. However, the stand alone option is usually more expensive.

The emergency home cover normally provides coverage for the boiler repair cost and few times, the rest of the central heating system as well. Being fully aware how important a boiler can be, insurance companies usually deliver a rapid response service as suggested in the name, “emergency home cover. However, the maximum pay out for call out charges is capped at a particular amount which usually ranges from £500 and £1,000. Apart from the call out fees, the emergency cover also includes a limit on the pay out amount for future required repairs of heating systems which includes both parts labour.

The Hive thermostat stand is relatively easy to install, however if you lack the necessary training or experience, this is a task you might want to leave to a professional to guarantee the best result while also saving you money and time. This guide will give you a good insight into the Hive thermostat installation process.

The installation of a Hive thermostat does require it to be connected to your home boiler. For this reason we always recommend you get a professional to install it. However once install the Hive Smart Thermostat is very easy to operate and move the controller around your home. To get started, you can follow these steps:

• Press the lever at the lower side of the thermostat and pull away from the front to detach the back plate of your device.

• Once done, simply hang the thermostat on the stand back plate and ensure it holds firmly in place

When it comes to Hive thermostat installation, you might also want to consider the positioning of the device in such a way to heat your home even more efficiently as its designed to be very sensitive to temperature. To identify the best spot for your Hive thermostat, let’s take a look at some of the dos and don’ts.

A Few Dos:

• Do maintain the position of your Hive Thermostat to keep a stable connection with the receive and Hive Hub.

• Do ensure that the position chosen is the centre of your home or a frequently used room.

• Do place the thermostat about 1 to 1.5 metres from floor.

• Do ensure that your thermostat is in a close proximity with the hub and receiver for a better functionality.

A Few Don’ts:

• Don’t place your Hive thermostat stand close to radiators, direct sunlight or other heat sources,

• Don’t position your device near or at places that can expoerience a sudden change in temperature such as the front or back door.

• Don’t leave your thermostat too close to curtains or ornaments.