A lot of homeowners ensure their boiler is ready for the winter months with the challenging weather and the required heat from the lower temperatures. And then they don’t do much to their boiler during the warmer spring and summer months. After all, with the sunshine, holidays and trips out, we don’t spend much time at home or worrying about maintenance for our boiler, even if you’ve had a new boiler installation you still need to care for it. But while we might be in the middle of a heatwave, winter will just be around the corner. Therefore, you must keep on top of your boiler and make any changes to prepare for the winter months. That way, you are less likely to run into any issues when you do start using the system again to heat your home. Also, maintaining the boiler during summer will ensure it runs effectively in the winter months. Here are some tips on maintaining your boiler this summer.
Get a service for the boiler
A lot of people forget about servicing their boiler and tend to leave it until the last minute when winter is in full flow. This could mean you end up with issues with your boilers that need sorting when you require it to run properly due to the poor weather. Therefore, the summer months are a great time to arrange that annual service for your boiler. They are a great way to keep your warranty still valid and keeping up-to-date with servicing is important if you decide to sell your home in due course. When you arrange a service with a professional boiler company, they will provide a number of checks on the boiler.
The boiler service will go through a safety check which is very important for the sake of your family. They will also test and check over all the parts and components of the boiler, as well as look out for any leaks and corrosion. They will ultimately ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible and that it’s likely to continue running this way until the next servicing. If there are any repairs to be done, they will inform you of these and quote you for the work. Additionally, if your boiler needs replacing, you will also be made aware so that you can change this before the winter months arrive. Once they have completed the service, they will add this to your service record so that you have proof of the service.
Turn the boiler on
It’s likely that during the summer months you will only be using the boiler to produce hot water. After all, once the nice weather arrives, we turn off the heating for our property. But while we do this for months on end, it’s important to test the boiler by switching it on during this period. Not only doing this is important to ensure everything is working correctly, but it will also stop the valve and pump inside the boiler from seizing.
After all, if the system isn’t in use for months on end, it can stop working from lack of use. And then you could find your heating will stop working and you will need to make further changes to get it all sorted again in the winter. Therefore, at least once a month during the summer, turn on the boiler and allow the radiators to get warm. Once you have done this, you can then turn it back off. By doing this, you can check if any issues need to be addressed now.
Give your radiators some TLC
To ensure your boiler system works properly, you also need to take care of the radiators which are part of the central heating system. During the summer months, check them over and replace any that are not working properly so that they are ready to work during the winter months. They are just as important as the rest of the boiler system. You can also bleed the radiators which is always wise to do before the bad weather returns. This will stop any air from getting trapped in the system which will stop your radiators from heating up, even if your boiler is working effectively. If they are working periodically or are making noises, this is a sign that they do need bleeding. Doing this before winter arrives is very important so that you have an efficient system in place for the colder months.
Check the pressure is working properly
Another way to maintain your boiler during the summer months is to ensure the pressure is working properly. You need to check the pressure during the summer regularly so that the pressure doesn’t become too high or low. Otherwise, you will run into problems. For example, if the pressure becomes too high, you are likely to get air in your radiators and then this will get stuck in the system and you will have to bleed the radiators as explained above. There should be an explanation on the boiler as to what pressure that exact boiler should be at so that you know before adjusting it, but if you can’t find the necessary pressure, you should ask a gas-registered heating engineer to take a look.
Make any necessary repairs
During the summer months, it’s a good idea to ensure your boiler is working by winter by getting any necessary boiler repairs completed now. It’s not a good idea to wait as the problem might get worse and you will need the boiler in action when the weather turns colder. Also, engineers are likely to be able to complete the work quicker as have fewer jobs during the summer months. Therefore, you will be able to book the engineer of your preference to complete the job. And with you using the boiler less during the summer, it will be less inconvenient to have the work taking place now. Your family will be able to manage more easily without a boiler, especially when out and about during the summer. Therefore, conduct any repairs or make any necessary upgrades during the summer months.
