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A few boiler maintenance tips to keep your bathroom cosy

A few boiler maintenance tips to keep your bathroom cosy

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 13th November 2018

It is a really good idea to maintain your boiler and the best thing you can do is give it a yearly service provided by a Gas Safe registered engineer. There's nothing worse than having to have a cold shower in the middle of winter because your boiler has stopped working and you can't get a plumber round quickly enough to fix it. A yearly service will help to prevent any major boiler and central heating problems, though there are a few things that homeowners can do in the meantime.

Boiler manuals

In an emergency, you may need to find your manual in a hurry. If you have lost it, you can contact the manufacturer. Check the model number on your boiler first to ensure you get the right instructions. Most manufacturers allow you to download manuals directly from their websites.

Boiler automatic pump anti-seize function

Most modern gas boilers should have this. The automatic pump anti-seize function automatically spins the pump for a few minutes when the boiler has not been in use for a long time. This helps prevent problems when starting the boiler up at the beginning of winter.

What to do about a frozen boiler condensate pipe

Boilers retain condensate water and then let it out in a gush in an attempt to prevent freezing, but the condensate pipe can still freeze in particularly cold weather. This is especially true if the condensate pipe is external. If your condensate pipe is frozen up, your boiler will probably switch itself off – exactly the opposite of what you need in such weather. Follow these steps to get your boiler going again.
  • Use warm, but not boiling, water to unfreeze the pipe’s contents. This will only be a temporary fix.
  • Lag the pipe with insulating material.
  • If the pipe is at a shallow angle or very narrow, it may need to be re-installed. The larger and more vertical the pipe is, the better.
Hopefully these few tips help some people, but the best thing to avoid a costly (and cold) boiler breakdown is to call in a Gas Safety Registered professional.
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