Boiler problems and how to avoid them...

The majority of boilers have a number of controls that are aimed at making it as easy as possible for you get heat and hot water when you need it. Because of the sensitive nature of these controls if there are any faults it can end up costing you quite a lot of money in excess heating etc.

Because of this it is thoroughly recommended that you regularly check your thermostat, time switches and the programming facility.

It is extremely important that you never attempt to undertake any type of servicing or repair work on your boiler or heating system aside from that mentioned above. You should always look to get someone approved by the Gas Safe Register to come out and do any repairs or maintenance for your system.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that a good habit to get into is having your boiler and heating system checked regularly by an approved engineer. In fact annual boiler servicing is great way to prevent any major problems and expensive callouts.

Thermostats
It is important to keep a close eye on your thermostat as when they start to get a bit older they can lose some of their accuracy. Now whilst your engineer is able to clean up and even recalibrate your thermostat controls it is often a better idea just to purchase new ones from a DIY store as you will get more use and they can often be more energy efficient.

Programmers and time switches
This is simply a case of checking that the timer is working correctly otherwise you will find the heating going on at the wrong times etc.

Electronic programmers
You need to check that the LCD display and circuit board are all still functioning correctly, fortunately most boilers have a standard universal back plate behind the electronic one so it’s easy enough to purchase and fit a replacement.

Radiator valve
It is a good idea just to check that the valves on your radiators are working, depending on the type of valve you can do different tests; if it is a thermostatic valve then simply turn it up. If it is the standard shield valve then just remove the cover and adjust the setting.
If you don’t notice any change in the temperature then it’s time to call out an engineer to have a look at the problem.

Condensate pipe
The condensate pipe is used to carry the condensation from your boiler to the outside drain. Problems can arise during particularly cold whether when the pipe can freeze and possibly cause a block stopping the flow of condensation away from the boiler and thus forcing the boiler to shut down.

There are numerous ways to tell if the condensate pipe has frozen, the LCD display may show a fault code/warning light or they may be bubbling sounds coming from the unit itself.

Signs that the condensate pipe may have frozen include your boiler's display showing a 'fault code' or warning light as well as gurgling or bubbling sounds coming from the boiler or the condensate pipe.

Why you need boiler cover ASAP!!!

In winter your boiler is pretty much your best friend – be it keeping you cosy or providing hot water to wash, it provides what you need when you need it. However if you don’t take proper care of your boiler and heating system they might just let you down when you need it most.

So to help explain why you should book a boiler service before this winter period really hits we compiled some tops reasons why we feel you should get your boiler serviced regularly.

1. This is pretty much the best reason we have – A FAULTY BOILER CAN KILL YOU!

Carbon monoxide can be produced by boilers that haven’t been properly fitted or maintained and the gas has no odour or colour so you may not even know there’s a problem. So it’s essential your get your boiler checked out regularly and at the very least once a year.

2. If you are renting the property out – You are legally required to have a Gas Safety Certificate.

These can only be issued by Gas Safe Registered Engineers which means you stay on the right side of the law and your tenants stay safe.

3. Have your boiler serviced regularly will save you money.

By having your boiler serviced annually you can deal with problems that occur one at a time and thus reduce the time spent on labour and parts whereas if you just leave it till it breaks you may get a hefty bill for parts and labour that could have been avoided.

Choosing a boiler: The checklist

Need to change your boiler? The first thing I'm sure you'll be thinking about is the expense. Yes, boilers don't come cheap. And while you'll want to save money where you can - it's also important to buy something that won't break down and require you to spend even more money on repairs. And of course - the most important factor in anyone's search for a boiler is safety.

A lot to consider - so how do you make sure you're looking in the right direction? Well luckily Which?

 have a replacement boiler checklist to outline your options. Covering fuel type, boiler type, efficiency, manufacturer and making sure your boiler has the right controls for you - this guide is an essential read for anyone who wants their options fully explained when it comes to getting a boiler.

And as well as running down a handy checklist, the guide also comes with a warning - don't try to install a boiler yourself. No matter how good your DIY skills are, there's no messing about when it comes to gas safety, and no room for error. Leave it to a professional and ask friends for recommendations before calling someone out. When you do find someone you trust, always ask to see a Gas Safety Register ID card, and you can also check the companies status on the Gas Safe Register's website. This is great advice, and something I took on board when recently changed my boiler. I used SSE Home Services boiler installation - and I have to admit it looked pretty complicated, so I'm glad I left the professionals to it.

Gas safety for landlords...

I started thinking about this post when one of my friends recently asked me what the requirements were for a landlord regarding gas appliances and boilers. So I did a bit of research and it's all pretty straight forward but extremely important.

If you are the landlord of a property then there are a number of legal requirements that you must adhere to:

• You are wholly responsible for the gas safety of the property.
• Therefore you must maintain gas boilers and any other gas equipment to a satisfactory standard. This translates as an annual service of all the gas appliances including boiler servicing.
• It is absolutely imperative that you have a valid gas safety certificate in place.
• You need to ensure that you give your tenants a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of its start date.
• It is also necessary for you to ensure that your tenants know how to turn off the gas in the event of a leak.

This is a simple guide to ensure that you are staying within the law when it comes to gas and your property. However if you are looking for any more information or a more in-depth guide then check out the Health and Safety Executive website.

Feed-in tariff suggested to reduce future electricity bills

The government should pay home-owners and businesses to reduce electricity use, to help save the environment and reduce electricity bills in the future, an environmental think tank (the Green Alliance) has suggested.

The suggested feed-in tariff would mean the government should pay out now, so that everyone can save money in the future - by cutting the demand for electricity companies to build new power stations.

If this were to go ahead, it wouldn't be the first time the government has introduced incentives for energy saving - with the boiler scrappage scheme being offered across the country to offer people discounts on more efficient boilers.

But could an energy saving incentive work if consumers had to pay up front? According to Dustin Benton, senior policy writer at the Green Alliance, it would be possible, as it could tie in with the governments electricity market reforms and could be implemented quickly to provide a solution to the rising concerns over electricity bills.

Carers could have heating bills reduced

The Scottish Government has announced that a new scheme could help reduce the heating bills of up to 7000 carers in the country.

The energy assistance package, which currently helps the elderly and vulnerable people, is being altered to include those recieving a carers' allowance, said Infrastructure and Capital Investment Secretary Alex Neil. This will mean that carers may be eligable to have a boiler or heating system fitted at a reduced prices, or even get free or discount home insulation improved.

This will no doubt be welcome to carers who may have to stay at home to look after a friend or family member and are not able to take up full time employment.

200,000 people have recieved home heating advice through the energy assistance package since it's launch in 2009, and 21,000 have had access to discount heating or free insulation. This new alteration to the package is designed to help a further 7000 people in Scotland, and further prevent vulnerable groups from getting heating bills they cannot afford.

Scottish and Southern Energy scrap nuclear plans

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) today announced that they have ended plans to develop a new nuclear station to concentrate on green energy instead.

Announcing that they are selling their 25% share in NuGeneration (NuGen), SSE stated that they would rather invest time and money in the companies strongest areas, largely revolving around green energy. The company did not write off the possibility of future involvement in nuclear, but did confirm that the core investment at the moment is in renewable energy. The company have a strong background in the renewable energy sector, and have additionally been backing environmentally campaigns by taking part in the UK boiler scrappage scheme. 

SSE (who trade as Scottish Hydro) have never previously been involved in nuclear energy, but had plans to introduce a new power plant in West Cumbria. NuGen was set up with the cooperation of two other energy companies, and  may still continue operations in another location.