Benefits of an Annual Boiler Service

Making a mental note is a powerful way to remember an important event which is impending. We may use trigger words or make a visualization of what is to come. These tactics are somewhat useful to make something stick in our mind, but they do not always work.

It is far more beneficial to receive a reminder.  A friendly reminder is especially impertinent when it is time to book an annual service. Some boiler manufacturers may guarantee that they will send out someone to your home, but they may not have the system in place to effectively reach out to customers that it is time to do so. Not arranging an engineer to come out to service your boiler will be met by hefty consequences. Household occupants will pay dearly either by their health or with their lives.

Risk of Carbon Monoxide Leaking

A faulty boiler can leak carbon monoxide in your home. The poisonous gas accounts for 50 recorded deaths per year and as many as 4000 are treated at the hospital. The silent killer is both odorless and invisible to the naked eye. Its symptoms can cause everyone at home to feel unwell in different ways. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a cause for concern for expecting mothers as it can result in birth defects such as fetal brain damage and limb abnormalities.

It can also result in pre-natal death and miscarriages. Those with heart disease can suffer from chest pains and even a heart attack. Other complications include vision loss, hearing loss and memory loss. You can reduce the risk by having an annual boiler service because it will enable the Gas-Safe engineer to detect emission of carbon monoxide.

Risk of Living in a Cold Home

If your boiler isn’t serviced annually, you can have low boiler pressure. Before we delve into the issues caused by low pressure, we need to understand what boiler pressure is and how it differs from water pressure. Boiler pressure is the pressure of hot water coming through your central heating system whereas water pressure refers to the pressure of water running in your taps.

Most central heating system operate within the range of 1 to 2 bar. We can measure the exact pressure by taking a glance at the pressure gauge which is on the front control panel on our boiler.  If the pressure is less than 1, you will have inadequate amount of water running through your central heating system.

Your home will become unbearable to live in because it will become cold and damp. You can also develop hypothermia. This is a medical emergency in which your body will lose heat faster than it can produce. Young children and the elderly are most vulnerable to hypothermia. Its symptoms include shivering, irritability, confusion and a lack of co-ordination. You may also lose consciousness.

Risk of Damaging Your Home

On the other hand, you can put a strain on the boiler causing it to shut down if the pressure gauge is greater than 3. In the worst-case scenario, the boiler will leak from the pressure relief valve (PRV) leaving you with a soaked carpet or on your floorboards. It can also cause corrosion on your boiler’s pipework. You can reduce pressure by draining water from the system.

You can accomplish this by locating the drain point which is underneath a radiator and opening it with pliers. You can also bleed the radiator by operating a release valve with a radiator key.

You can avoid the hassle entirely by having your boiler serviced by a Gas-Safe engineer on an annual basis. A series of checks will be carried out, including:

• emissions check to find out if carbon monoxide is leaking.
• a pressure check to ensure gas pressure is in order.
• a visual inspection will be done to look out for rust and corrosion.
• flue check so the boiler can be ventilated properly.
• a control check to see if the boilers’ controls are in fully working.

These series of checks are essential because they will provide adequate heating in your home and will prevent fuel from burning improperly, hence saving you money in the long run. With 247 Home Rescue, you can rest assure we will send out a Gas-Safe engineer that specializes in servicing combi, condensing and traditional boilers.

They can also service back boilers and floor standing boilers that are connected to a natural gas line. They work in conjunction with our booking department who will send you an e-mail and a text message reminding you to book your service. If you would like to have an early boiler service, you can book your appointment by logging into MY247 app.