We never know what weather is awaiting us from one week to the next, but while our climate is always unpredictable, one thing for certain is that we will have a prolonged cold spell at some point during the year.
A warm home is a happy home, but on the other hand cold rooms and a lack of hot running water can soon make us feel miserable. That’s why it’s important to take the necessary steps to keep our boilers and radiators working optimally, as well as having a great value home emergency cover in place. Here are three tips that could keep your home warm all year round.
1. Bleed Your Radiators Regularly
Have you noticed that over time your rooms just don’t feel as warm as they once did? The most common reason for this is that the radiators need bleeding. This means that there are pockets of air trapped in the pipes or radiator that prevent the hot water from circulating correctly. Touch the radiators when they’re on, being careful not to burn your hand, and if one corner is cooler than the other, it’s a sure sign that bleeding is needed. Simply take your radiator key and turn it anti-clockwise for about half a turn. You’ll hear the trapped air escaping, and after a while a sludgy liquid may appear – at this point turn the key clockwise again. Have a bowl or towel under the radiator to collect escaping liquid, and do this for every radiator in your home.
2. Keep the Boiler Pressure Topped Up
Our boilers have to work hard during the winter months, and over time they can lose pressure which makes them much less efficient, and therefore more expensive to run, and less effective. Take a look at the water pressure indicator on your boiler, and compare it to the settings stipulated in your boiler manual. If it’s lower than it should be, you need to re-pressurise it. Switch off the boiler and let it cool, before opening both valves of the boiler using a tap or a flat screwdriver. At this point you should hear cold water filling the system. Keep an eye on the pressure indicator, and when it reaches around 1.5 bar of pressure, an optimum level, close the valves again and switch the system back on.
3. Service Your Boiler Annually
Your boiler is one of the most important items on your property, so have it serviced annually by a plumber or gas safety engineer. Boiler repairs can be costly, as well as inconvenient, so it’s important to have emergency and insurance cover which you can get from specialists like Certi. This company provide value+ boiler cover and value+ home emergency cover plans, which means that you won’t be left facing a hefty bill if your boiler becomes erratic or fails. You never know when an emergency will strike, but they can be contacted 24 hours a day, and they will ensure that a qualified engineer will swiftly arrive with you; it can cost less than five pounds a month and you can find out more here if you’re interested.
Having your boiler serviced every year, bleeding the radiators, and keeping your boiler pressure between one bar and two bar will help to keep your rooms snug and inviting. When you also have comprehensive and affordable boiler cover in place, you’ll be able to sleep soundly at night, whatever winter throws at us.