Helpful Tips & Advice On Boiler Repairs & Maintenance

Like every other gadget or equipment, boilers need repair and maintenance from time to time depending upon a number of factors. By timely checking and not ignoring any unusual indications they can a long and efficient life. But before everything, you should understand that repair and maintenance are two very different things.

Maintenance is the practice of keeping an appliance or equipment as good as new, by taking its utmost care. Timely inspection of the boiler system, its valves, and all the pipelines about its functioning and cleanliness is all a part of boiler maintenance.

Whereas repairs are the act of fixing a particular problem in the boiler. This is generally performed by professionals and engineers who are experts about the subject matter. Although boilers are highly efficient and require a very little amount of maintenance and repair, one should never ignore any issue relating to it no matter how minor it looks.

Things that require a yearly maintenance are-

• Checking of the fuel oil/gas levels inside the boiler.
• Inspection and testing of all the safety valves.
• Inspection and testing of all the system valves.
• Proper inspection and cleanliness of all the fireside surfaces.
• Cleaning of all the boiler components.
• Tuning of the operators and components.
• Overhaul feedwater pumps.
• Thorough checking of all the electrical terminals.
• Inspection of all the burner refractory material.
• Cleaning of the chimneys.
• Inspection for any leaks in the manhole gaskets.
• Cleaning of condensate receiver.
• Clean and rebuilt low water cut-off.
• Not forgetting to switch the boiler automation to summer mode.

Things that require a cyclic maintenance are-

• Frequent checking and maintaining the oil level.
• Checking and cleaning the air filter and preventing it from clogging.
• The oil filters should be cleaned at least twice a week.
• Examine the pipes for any leaks.
• Checking the temperature and pressure levels to decide on an appropriate range.
• Check for any blockage in the combustion air opening.

Taking good care of your boiler:

The biggest step towards maintaining your boiler is taking good care of it. Carefully read the manual as soon as possible after the installation to get an insight of its components and functioning. By reading the manual you will also under the difference between what’s normal and what’s not in your boiler system.

Also keep a safe copy of the manual so that you can refer to it whenever needed in the future. In case you notice any unusual behavior in your boiler contact your nearest service provider.

About boiler repairs:

Boiler repairs are always to be carried out by qualified gas safe engineers. These are the people expert in the field and have all the knowledge about the functioning and operations of a boiler. No matter how troublesome it may look to use a faulty boiler, you should never attempt to repair or fix it on your own. Doing so can not only risk the functioning of the boiler but might also cause a risk to your life. There’s no warranty involved as well when you damage your boiler on your own if not qualified to do so.

Problems that require the need of repair:

• No heating– The problem with no heat being provided from a boiler can be due to a number of reasons. Always contact for repair when this problem arises as it can be something serious and not easily fixable as well.
• Leaks and drips– One of the most common problems is leaks and drips. When it is from the pipes it’s not that big of an issue and more of a fault in a particular pipe or its fitting. But when there’s a leak coming from a boiler that’s when it may be a serious issue and needs an instant repair.
• Kettling sound- It means when your boiling starts making a loud banging or rumbling sound. It, not a normal thing as the household boilers these days function very silently. If it is making a loud sound than usual that when it needs a repair.
• Other problems-
  • Boiler turning off itself
  • Water coming out of pipes or taps being too hot.
  • Loss of pressure inside the boiler.
  • Partial heating inside the house.
  • Frozen compensation in the pipeline.
  • The pilot light keeps going off on its own.

Advantages of boiler maintenance and repair:

• Extending your boiler’s life.
• Helps in maintaining boiler warranty.
• Reduction in energy costs and overall bills.
• Better energy efficiency and reliability.
• Avoiding the release of gases like carbon monoxide inside the house.
• Avoiding the boilers to explode.

Disadvantages of not having your boiler maintained and repaired:

• Ends up costing more in terms of energy and efficiency.
• May require more and more repair over time if not maintained timely.
• Instant higher costs are involved later when not fixed on the right time.

How and from where to get your boiler repaired?

One-off repair

90% of customers pay £289 or less

How much you’ll pay will depend on how long it takes to complete your repair and where you live.

One of our expert engineers will take a look at your boiler and central heating and give you a quote to repair them. If you’re happy with the quote, our engineer will start the repair. If you decide not to go ahead, you’ll only be charged for 30 minutes of the engineer’s time. If there are any unrelated faults, such as a leaking radiator when the original fault was a broken boiler, we will provide a separate quote for each repair.

Link- https://www.britishgas.co.uk/home-services/boilers-and-heating/boiler-and-heating-repair.html

Importance of boiler maintenance and repair:

Boiler maintenance is much more crucial than most people think it is. Majority of people ignore about its maintenance and repair right after they installed it for the very first time, which later on leads to much bigger problems which are harder and expensive to deal with in future.

All the boiler owners must get their boiler checked and repaired if required at least one in a year by a qualified engineer. Getting it checked and repaired annually will also allow you to get all the hassle-free services from your boiler. It will not only fix a problem but also increase the efficiency and overall life of your boiler as well.

Beware of boiler explosion!

Over the years it is seen that boilers if not maintained and looked after carefully may cause a serious threat to the people inside the building. The reason behind that is boiler uses quite an amount of pressure to function which if not is adequate may cause an EXPLOSION of boilers releasing a large number of dangerous gases such as Carbon Monoxide.

What Do The Experts Have To Say?

William Axtman

Over the years, various estimates of the potential energy of a boiler or pressure-vessel explosion have been presented, with the intent of demonstrating the danger of this equipment if not properly maintained. Fire and rescue squads have entirely too much familiarity with the explosive potential of even the small pressure vessel in everyone’s home or apartment, the hot-water heater – a device that sometimes is under the regulatory jurisdiction of no organization whatsoever.

It is because hot-water heaters are usually so reliable that many consider them benign. But consider this: If you could capture all the energy released when a 30-gallon home hot-water tank flashes into explosive failure at 332°F, you would have enough force to send the average car (weighing 2,500 pounds) to a height of nearly 125 feet – or more than the height of a 14-story apartment building – starting with a lift-off velocity of 85 miles per hour!

Link- https://www.nationalboard.org/Index.aspx?pageID=164&ID=412

FAQs:

Question- How often does my boiler need to be looked at?

Answer- We recommend that your boiler is serviced at least once a year to ensure it is working at maximum efficiency and that there are no red flags. This will reduce your need for boiler repair in the future. 

Question- What should I do if I smell gas?

Answer-

• Extinguish all naked flames and do not smoke or light anything.
• Do not touch any electrical switches, turning on or off.
• Turn the gas off at the meter (generally outside the house).
• Open all doors and windows.
• Get everyone out of the area.

Question- What is the lifespan of a gas boiler?

Answer– 20 to 30 years.

Question- Why should I consider replacing my boiler?

Answer– It might be that your boiler isn’t energy efficient anymore or that it requires constant fixing. You might end up spending a lot more on energy bills because of an inefficient, older boiler model. Find out how a new boiler can save you money.

Question- What information do you need to know about my house to fit a new central heating system and boiler fitted?

Answer-To make sure we fit the right size boiler for your home we will need to know;

• How many radiators do you have?
• How many bathrooms do you have?
• How many rooms are in the house?
• Do you have double-glazing?
• Are you planning to build an extension to your house?

Real world case: by Michelle and Gill

We contacted the boiler service convinced that we would need to replace the boiler, but Andy and his colleague Neil came out at short notice, ordered the necessary parts and returned the following day to fix the problems. I should say that they went above and beyond by coming at the end of their day on a Friday to make sure that we had hot water before the weekend. They were honest, friendly, reasonable, polite, kind and ultimately saved us from making an unexpected boiler purchase. We know that because of the age of the boiler we will probably need to replace it in a couple of years’ time and when we do decide to do this, we will absolutely go to The Boiler Repair Man. In the meantime, we will make sure we get our boiler serviced with this company and would highly recommend to anyone thinking about using them.

Link- https://www.trustpilot.com/review/theboilerrepairman.co.uk

Conclusion:

Boilers have become an essential part of our lifestyle, especially during the winter season. They are highly efficient and make our lives extremely comfortable by providing a central heating system and hot water as per our needs. Just like all the gadgets and systems they need timely maintenance and repair too. This ensures that boilers provide us with efficient service throughout its life and for a long period.