By performing routine maintenance on your boiler, you can save thousands each year on heating bills and repair costs. Regular maintenance can prevent problems and breakdowns, boosting the efficiency of your boiler and increasing its lifespan. A working boiler also means a safer home. Take a moment to look at these maintenance tips that will help you to keep your heating system running at full capacity.
1. Clear Air Vents and Flues
No matter what condition a boiler is in, it won’t work properly if air vents are blocked by dirt and grime. This can be a particular problem with gas boilers, but it can also happen with other varieties as well. You should regularly inspect vents and remove any blockage so that air can pass through the system without any trouble.
2. Check the water level
Every two weeks, you should make it a routine to test the water level in your boiler. Make sure the pilot light is on, then look into the chamber to see the water level. If it’s below the minimum acceptable line, there may be something wrong with your boiler. You should fix any issues that you find immediately, as running a boiler without water can ruin the equipment, and worse, could cause an accident.
3. Look for gas or fuel leaks
A fuel leak is often not a serious problem for your boiler, as leaks occur during routine use. Gas leaks can be dangerous for anyone living in your house, though. If you detect a gas leak, you may need to make some adjustments to your boiler or replace worn-out parts.
4. Remove limescale buildup
If you don’t have a soft water filter, you may experience excessive lime scale buildup in your boiler over time. If it’s left unchecked, lime scale can affect a boiler’s ability to function properly, and it won’t heat water nearly as quickly or efficiently. Descale your boiler when you notice any build-up forming inside.
5. Lubricate fans and pumps
Lubricating the moving parts of a boiler system, such as the fan or the pumps, can make the entire system run more smoothly and increase the machine’s efficiency. It also improved the longevity of critical parts so that you end up replacing them fewer times over the years.
6. Clear dust and clutter out of the boiler room
You should keep your boiler room clean and relatively free of debris. Boilers need proper ventilation to function properly, and so boxes, bags and other items should be stored clear of its exhaust system.
7. Flush all the water from the boiler
A couple of times a year, you should flush the water from your boiler and replace it with fresh water. This gets rid of dirt, grit, and other impurities that can affect your boiler’s efficiency. After scrubbing the interior of the boiler, you should put in some new gaskets then refill the chamber with clean water.
8. Look for a blue flame
The pilot flame in your boiler should be a bright blue colour. If you notice that it’s turned yellow or taken on a smoky quality, there may be something wrong. You should contact a professional plumbing service as soon as possible to resolve the issue.
9. Bleed the radiators
When air gets trapped in your boiler system, you need to release it for the radiators to heat properly. To bleed a radiator, switch the heat off and open the valve using the radiator key, turning it counterclockwise for a quarter of a rotation until you hear air hissing. Once water begins to drip out, turn the key in the opposite direction.
10. Get your boiler checked each year
Once per year, it’s a good idea to get your boiler checked out by a professional plumbing service. A licensed engineer can ensure that everything is operating as it should, and if it’s not, you can find out how to fix problems. This will keep your boiler running properly year after year.