There are many aspects to consider before and during the process of purchasing a boiler and the boiler installation making the whole thing quite confusing and complicated. But we are here to help, we will make the boiler installation process easier for you by rounding up the main things to consider before making the dive for your new boiler.
Boiler issues can become an expensive inconvenience at the best of times, with the majority of breakdowns occurring in the winter months. This can be down to the fact that the boiler has been inactive for a long period of time and are forced back into life.
To try and help any inconvenience here are 5 of the most common boiler issues to be aware of:
1) No Heat or Hot water
A good place to start when the heating goes off is to check the boiler pressure or your thermostat, this checks issues with the thermostat or low water levels.
2) Leaking and Dripping
Leaking or dripping water is by far the most common problem of the combi gas installations. There are several possible causes for this issue, so a DIY repair is usually very problematic. Contract a licensed serviceman to do the check and solve the issue.
3) Kettling
When lime scale or sludge builds up on your boiler’s heat exchanger you can get something called kettling. The deposits build up in your boiler and restrict the flow of water within the heat exchanger. This can overheat the water, causing it to steam and boil (causing the kettle-like sounds). As a result of this your boiler starts to work harder and thus costing more to run which shortens the systems life.
4) No Pilot Light
Commonly when the pilot light goes off it can be down to a few things. The flame has been blown out by a draught in the boiler, the thermocouple is broken and needs a replacement or the limescale has built up to a pint on the pilot light that it just needs a clean
5) Condensate Pipe
All condensing boilers, weather combi, system or regular have a condensate pipe which transports acidic water, caused by waste gas, away from the boiler. In most cases, this pipe will run outside into the drain. Due to its location it faces the risk of freezing during the winter months. To prevent this, you can thaw out a frozen condensate pipe using a hot water bottle or warm cloth etc.
In England and Wales all gas boiler installations, along with any other heat producing appliances like a fire, need to be registered at the Local Authority to meet with Building Regulations – it is illegal to install a boiler or a heating appliance into a property without a building regulations certificate.
Once the boiler installation has been completed and the local authorities have been notified a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate should arrive via the post within 10-15 working days from the gas safe registered business stating that this boiler has been installed complying with all building regulations.
As this certificate belongs to the property, it is essential that you keep this certificate in a safe place as it will be needed if you decide to re-mortgage the property or decide to sell your home as the document needs to be passed on to the next owner.
There are three main types of gas condensing boilers to choose from:
A combination boiler, also known as a combi boiler, eliminates the need for a storage tank as this heat your water as and when you need it.
A heat only boiler which is seen as the conventional boiler comes with a hot water tank or cylinder that stores your hot water for later use.
The system boiler is commonly used for a busier household which requires a store of hot water. If you choose a pressurised hot water system, there will be no need for tanks or cylinders which can lead to increased efficiency.
If you’re planning a new boiler installation or replacement and live in Newcastle or the North East check out CP12 Energy and get in touch for quote or to book a visit from one of our gas safe registered engineers with experience and expert knowledge around boilers.
