Fire it up! Have you serviced your boiler?
Checking your boiler and heating system is crucial in maintaining a safe property, at optimum temperature. As part of your thatched property insurance or listed property insurance, regular boiler maintenance is key in preventing accidental damage, which could affect your premium should you need to make a claim.
Ideally you need to service your boiler in late summer, or at the beginning of autumn, in preparation for winter. If you own a thatched property or a listed building, your heating system and boiler may need updating, and at the very least, a thorough check.
Maintaining your heating system is not just a case of buying a new boiler. Your boiler will require regular services and checks to ensure it is performing at its best. In this article, we provide a range of suggestions on how to make sure your boiler is ‘firing on all cylinders.’
Why do you need to check your boiler regularly?
Each year there are around 60 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning, linked to faulty boilers and heating systems.1 Known as the “silent killer” because it is odourless, colourless, tasteless and does not irritate the skin, carbon monoxide can leak into a property – undetected.
When you identify problems with your heating system early on, you can fix them quickly and easily. This prevents a minor issue turning into a dangerous and expensive one. Your thatched property insurance or listed property insurance policy could be affected if your insurer deem that you haven’t maintained your heating system and subsequent property damage is caused.
Hire a reputable and qualified Gas Safe engineer to check your heating system. To find a qualified Gas Safe engineer in your area check the Gas Safe Register https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer-or-check-the-register/. If they’re not on the Gas Safe Register, don’t use them!
How often should you check your boiler?
Annually, to make sure your boiler is consistently working all year round. Thatched homes, listed property can often feature older boilers which can be prone to leaks and faulty mechanisms. Unoccupied property can also be vulnerable to leaking boilers and radiators, so a yearly check-up is advisable
How do you know if your boiler is working properly?
- You will need to “bleed” your radiators if there are cold areas in the radiator or if they take a while to heat up https://www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source/fix-it-yourself/how-to-bleed-a-radiator.html. This isn’t as difficult as it sounds, but if you’re in doubt ask a Gas Safe engineer to do it for you.
- Your boiler gauge will indicate if your boiler is “under pressure”. The gauge needs to be about 1.5 bar2. Adjusting your boiler pressure can be tricky, so if you’re unsure, it’s best to get help from a qualified engineer.
Less obvious signs your boiler is on the ‘blink’
- If your energy bills have increased (even higher than current price hikes), it could be a sign your boiler is old or inefficient.
- If it’s leaking, it could have faulty parts. Call an engineer immediately.
- If it clatters, clanks or whirrs, this signals there is a potential fault.
- If the boiler flame burns yellow instead of blue, or the pilot light is regularly extinguished, this may be a sign of carbon monoxide.
- If your boiler smells in any way, this could be a sign of a carbon monoxide leak.
- If radiators take a while to heat up after you have ‘bled’ them – get them checked!
Energy efficiency
According to British Gas, your boiler loses energy if its efficiency is below par. Here is something to consider:
When your boiler is operating at 90% efficiency, 10% of energy is lost.
When your boiler is operating at 70%, 30% of energy is lost3.
It pays to reduce energy wastage as this helps save money and the environment.
Are your boiler repairs covered by home insurance?
Most home insurance policies don’t cover boiler servicing, repairs or replacement. You can however obtain cover which will help you address any issues you have with your heating system.
We offer Home Emergency Assistance. In the event of a burst pipe, leaking boiler, or other emergency, we will arrange for a local contractor to fix the issue. We also offer alternative accommodation as reasonable and necessary for up to 24 months.
If you own a listed or thatched property and would like to learn more on the type of specialist insurance it needs, talk to us.
If you have any queries around your existing home insurance, don’t hesitate to contact us – we are more than happy to help. If you would like assistance with a claim, please contact our helpful claims team.
For information on Thatched insurance
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Discover the world of Lloyd & Whyte Heritage- https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/guides/boiler-servicing.html
- https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/guides/improving-boiler-efficiency.html
- https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/guides/boiler-efficiency.html
Lloyd & Whyte Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No. 03686765. Registered Office: Affinity House, Bindon Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6AA. Calls may be recorded for use in quality management, training and customer support.