As cold weather is now upon us, it has never been more important to ensure your home is warm and cosy by making sure you know what to do if your heating isn’t working. Three common things which may mean your heating doesn’t work correctly are a frozen condensate pipe, low boiler pressure, and radiators in need of bleeding. All three have very quick and easy fixes and we’ve put together some helpful videos to ensure you don’t feel the chill this winter.
Frozen condensate pipe
The pipe that carries condensate away from your boiler can run internally in your home or on an outside wall. If the pipe runs externally, it may become frozen in very cold weather and prevent your boiler from working. Follow the instructions on our video to quickly defrost your condensate pipe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e92eyDRN5I
Low boiler pressure
If your central heating has stopped working it may be related to a loss of water pressure. Boiler pressure should read between 1 & 2 bar on the pressure gauge; if it doesn’t your system requires topping up. Refilling system pressure is very easy; watch our step by step video to find out how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O7fkg1ROVM
Radiators in need of bleeding
If your heating is on but your house isn’t warming up, check to ensure the thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) are turned up. If your home still isn't heating up, it may be because your radiators have air bubbles trapped in them and need bleeding. An indicator of this is if the radiator is cooler at the top than the bottom. Our video shows you the simple steps needed to bleed your radiators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjNpTIPD9a0
It’s also important to remember to get your boiler serviced annually to ensure its safe and efficient operation throughout the year, as well as to maintain the warranty. If you are unsure about anything relating to your boiler, contact a Gas Safe Registered engineer or the Ideal Boilers customer service team on 01482 498660.
Keep an eye on our blog and Twitter feed for more useful hints and tips for heating your home.