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How to prepare your boiler for the winter months

#BeWinterReady

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Check the pressure gaugeCheck that the water pressure gauge is working and that the pressure is at the right level. Most boilers operate between 1 -1.5 bar. Anything above or below this is an issue. Low pressure will prevent you from properly heating your home and make energy bills higher.

You can use the filling loop on your boiler to increase the pressure. If you’re unsure how to do this, take a look at the operator’s manual for your boiler. If the problem persists, you may have a leak in your plumbing.

If the pressure is above 1.5 bar, you may need to bleed your radiators. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you’ll probably want to speak to a professional.

Boiler repair and replacement company, JustBoilers said “On a combination boiler and pressurised system boiler, the pressure can maintain the correct level all the way through the summer whilst in hot water mode, but can drop significantly when you first use your heating. Therefore please check your boiler pressure gauge, and please see our video on how to re-pressurise your boiler. Simply type into YouTube “how to top up your boiler pressure.”

Test your radiatorsCentral heating systems often sit idle over the summer months and this can cause air to build up in the radiators. As you approach winter, wake your central heating back up by switching it on for around 20 minutes every other day, or as long as it takes for the radiators to reach their full temperature.

When it starts to get cold again, set the central heating temperature on the boiler to about 15.5°C/ 60°F rather than on maximum. Having the heating on for longer but at a lower temperature will give you a much more enjoyable heat. It will also prevent your boiler from going from very cold to very hot, putting less of a strain on your boiler.

Get your boiler professionally servicedEven if your boiler isn’t due its annual service, if you spot something that worries you, or just want to play it safe, it might be worth getting a plumber out to take a look. As ever, it’s often easier to prevent a boiler problem than to deal with the repercussions.

02 How to prepare your boiler for the winter months

How to prepare your boiler for the winter months

The best way to protect your property from this kind of damage is to take good care of your boiler. A healthy boiler, used regularly, can prevent pipes from freezing and bursting. It can also help prevent damp, mould and condensation from causing damage to your property.

Landlords are obliged by law to get their boiler serviced on an annual basis. But it’s recommended for landlords to check their boiler every autumn to ensure that everything is in working order. After all, you don’t want to be caught out by a defective boiler in the middle of a cold spell.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to preparing your boiler for winter conditions. We also recommend passing on this advice to your tenants.

Carry out an informal boiler inspectionFormal boiler inspections should be handled by professionals once a year. You can however give your boiler the once-over yourself to look for any warning signs as well, but need to arrange a convenient time with the tenant to carry out the inspection with adequate notice.

Look for cracks and signs of leaksStart with a visual inspection. Look for any cracks or signs of leaking. Rusting or oxidisation of the pipes is a sign of water escape. Puddles or evidence of evaporated water on the inside of the boiler shell is another. If the boiler is showing significant signs of leaking, it’s worth calling a plumber.

Flooding from burst pipes can spell serious trouble for landlords and tenants alike. And it happens more often than you’d think. In fact, escape of water claims caused by frozen pipes are our number one source of insurance claim.

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Check and bleed your radiatorsWhen your boiler is on, go around the house and check that all of the radiators are fully heating from top to bottom.

If your radiators are warm at the bottom but cold at the top, this is a sign that you need to bleed them. To do this, turn off your central heating and place a rag under the valve to catch any water that escapes. Fit a radiator key to the valve and turn the key anti-clockwise about 90 degrees, until the air stops being released and water runs smoothly out. Then close the valve again. You can turn the heating system back on to check if your radiators are now heating fully.

If they’re cold at the bottom but warm at the top, this is a sign that you have a build-up of ‘sludge’ inside. Sludge is thick, dark liquid that can build up in the bottom of radiators as water, metal and air mix over time. While you can try and fix this yourself, it’s probably best to seek professional help as removing the sludge can be messy and could cause damage to nearby walls, flooring or carpets.

Check and insulate your pipesInsulating your pipes is another way to prevent freezing. It can be a good failsafe if your boiler fails during cold weather. It will also save you money on heating and is good for the environment.

Pipe insulation lagging can be found in most good hardware shops. Make sure you buy the right size to fit your pipes. If your lagging is too small to wrap all the way around, heat will be able to escape. Fitting it is simple, just trim sections of lagging to fit the pipes you want to insulate and wrap it around.

It’s also a good idea to drain any outdoor water supply (such as a garden tap) and isolate it from your indoor pipes. To do this, close the stop valve on the inside of your property and then let the water supply run on the outside until the pipes are empty.

Work with your tenantsAs ever, taking care of your boiler over the winter will require you to work with your tenants. Detailed instructions on how to look after the boiler and use the thermostat should be left for them when they move in.

Particularly important is the need to maintain a minimum internal temperature of around 12°C throughout the winter, especially if they’re going away. This will help prevent burst pipes, but also reduce damp and condensation.

Finally, encouraging them to flag any issues with the boiler, such as low pressure or unexplained ‘banging’ noises, will help keep your boiler and heating system healthy.

Leaving a property unoccupiedAll of these tips are especially important if your tenants are going to leave the property unoccupied – perhaps to spend some time with family elsewhere over the holidays, or chasing some winter sun. You may even be in-between tenants.

In the event your property is left unoccupied, you’ll usually want to make sure that the water supply is switched off at the mains and ensure the entire water system and central heating system has been drained of all water. Where the entire private dwelling is centrally heated, though, make sure it is set to operate continuously for 24 hours a day. The thermostat also needs to be set at a minimum of 10 °C/50 °F.

Got a loft hatch? Make sure that’s left open, too.

Make sure you’re coveredLandlords and their tenants can do everything right and still find themselves in the occasional tight spot. Landlord insurance will cover you in the event of a boiler-related incident, helping you to focus on resolving the issue at hand. For further guidance on how to prepare and protect your property this winter visit our landlord advice page.

For more guidance on preparing your property this winter please visit www.hamiltonfraser.co.uk/knowledge/winter-landlord-advice

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Hamilton Fraser Total Landlord Insurance is a trading name of HFIS plc. HFIS plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

November 2019