Plumbing & Heating Advice
Expert tips, maintenance guides, and industry insights to help you keep your home warm, efficient, and running smoothly.
6 Reasons Why You Should Get Your Boiler Serviced Annually
If you’ve ever wondered why you need an annual boiler service, here are six vital reasons.
Have you had your boiler serviced in the last 12 months? It’s a job on our to-do list that is so easily forgotten about or put off. But annual maintenance is vital to keep your boiler working efficiently and safely. If you’re unsure why you even need a boiler service, here are 6 important reasons.
1. Spot Issues Before Your Boiler Breaks Down
There could be small issues building up in your boiler without you even knowing about it. It isn’t until you start using your boiler more in the winter months that issues become more apparent.
By having your boiler serviced every year, these small issues will be spotted early and fixed before they become bigger issues. The last thing you want is a costly boiler breakdown.
2. Avoid Replacing Your Boiler
If your boiler does break down and it’s not fixable, you’ll have to get a new boiler installed. This is an expensive outlay that could have been avoided with regular maintenance. On the other hand, an annual service will cost you just £50+VAT which is a relatively small annual expense.
3. Save Money on Energy Bills
When your boiler is running as efficiently as possible, it will help ensure your energy bills stay in check. When your boiler is struggling, more energy is eaten up to heat your water, so you might see your monthly bills slowly creeping up.
As part of your annual service, we’ll ensure your boiler is running efficiently, which will help you cut your energy bills and save you money over time.
4. Keep Your Family Safe
Each year, 4000 people are admitted to A&E with carbon monoxide poisoning. The symptoms are common so often confused with other illnesses, making CO poisoning a seriously harmful condition.
A regular boiler service will give you the peace of mind that your boiler isn’t producing harmful levels of carbon monoxide. To be safe all year round, make sure you also have a carbon monoxide detector near your boiler.
5. Keep Your Warranty Valid
Most boiler warranties include a condition that mandates an annual boiler service. If you don’t get a service from a Gas Safe registered engineer, your warranty may become void which is a headache if you experience a major fault or breakdown during the warranty period.
Book a yearly service to keep your warranty valid so you don’t get caught out while under the warranty period.
6. It's the Law if You’re a Landlord
This one is only relevant if you’re a landlord. All landlords are legally required to get an annual gas safety check on any rented properties. This will include a boiler service, but your plumber will also check all gas appliances, pipework and flues.
A landlord gas safety check is a slightly different process, so if you’re a Landlord make sure to book in your annual check now.
Do You Need a Boiler Service in Bristol, Chepstow or Monmouthshire?
If you haven’t had your boiler serviced in the past 12 months, now is the time to book in a service. At Coolheat Plumbing, we offer boiler services in Bristol, Chepstow, Monmouthshire and all surrounding areas.
Call us today to book an appointment that suits you.
How to Choose the Right Boiler for Your Home
Thinking about getting a new boiler installed? This guide will show you how to choose the best boiler for your home.
Has your boiler seen better days? Although a good quality boiler can last for years, there comes a time when your boiler will need to be replaced with a new, high-efficiency model. If you’re thinking of getting your boiler replaced, this guide will show you how to choose the best one for your home.
Boiler Types
There are three main types of boiler:
Combination (combi)
Regular
System
The best one for you will depend on the needs of your household. Combi boiler are smaller and provide instant hot water. On the other hand, System boilers require a hot water cylinder for storing hot water. Finally, regular boilers require a cold water tank and are usually found in homes with a traditional heating system.
Most heating engineers will usually reccommend a combi boiler since this one is the most compact and offers instant hot water.
Fuel Types
All three boiler types are available in gas, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and oil variants.
Gas boilers usually cost less to operate than oil boilers. However, the fuel type you choose will be dictated by what’s available in your area.
This is something your gas safe engineer will be able to advise on.
Output
The ‘size’ of a boiler refers to the power output measured in kilowatts. Generally, the larger the kilowatt output the more demanding your heating and hot water requirements tend to be.
Boilers range from 9 to 50 kilowatts. The size needed will depend on the size of your house, number of bathrooms, and the demand for hot water.
If you find that water often goes cold in your home, you made need a larger boiler to meet your needs.
Hot Water Demand
Combi boilers provide hot water and heating on demand from the mains water supply. However, if you have a large family or multiple bathrooms, a combi may struggle to provide enough hot water.
In this case, a regular or system boiler may be a better match. Again, your plumber will be able to give you expert advice on which boiler is the best based on your home and usage.
Oversizing
Based on this, you might think it’s best to get an oversized boiler to ensure you always have hot water. However, there really is no benefit of oversizing your boiler. In fact, it may make your energy bills more expensive unnecesarily.
This is why it’s important to ensure you have the right type and size of boiler for your home.
Looking for Expert Boiler Installation?
Need a boiler quote in Bristol or South Wales? Give our team a call today. We will be able to come out and give you a free quote and advice on the best boiler for your home.