How to Maintain a Healthy Gas Boiler

General Maintenance

There are multiple signs that your boiler can be in bad condition, for example: leaks, cracks corrosion, irregular noises or dark soot marks. You should regularly investigate your boiler for any of these signs in order to catch any issues as soon as possible that could be helped with a simple good clean or a visit from a Rightio gas safe registered engineer.

Hint: Have a set day each month where you check your boiler, such as the last Sunday of every month, in order to get you in a good routine.

Understand Your Boiler Controls and Pressure

Understanding your boiler through reading its instruction manual is vital to recognize when your boiler has an issue, what the issue is and what to do when this happens. For example, if your boiler pressure is low then you should top it back up until it is back to the correct level as noted in your manual which will reduce any strain on your boiler, saving you money on your bills and reducing your chances of a breakdown in the future.

Hint: If you have lost your physical copy of your boilers instruction Manuel then you may be able to find a copy online.

Check the Flame

A quick way of checking the condition of your boiler is to check the colour of its flame. A strong bright blue flame indicates a healthy boiler but if the flame is more yellowy and weak then this is a likely sign that there is an issue with the boiler and a gas engineer may be required to investigate and resolve.

Regularly Turn the Heating on (Yes, even in summer)

A common reason why boilers pack up in the winter is that they are unused in summer for long periods of time. Not only does regular use of your heating system prevent your pipes from freezing, it also reduces the strain on your boiler when it is required to fire up in the winter whilst any problems that are detected by starting your boiler in the summer can be dealt with before the winter freeze kicks in.

Therefore it is widely recommended that you fire up your boiler at least twice a month, even in the summer, in order to keep all parts of your boiler functioning and to reduce any build-up of sludge, soot or corrosion.

Annual Boiler Service

Although general maintenance can help to keep your boiler healthy, it is essential that you're boiler has an annual boiler service which can help: avoid expensive breakdowns, guarantee the safety of your boiler and maximise its fuel efficiency.

During an annual boiler service, a Rightio gas safe registered engineer will check all of the inner and outer parts of your boiler to ensure that it is all working correctly and efficiently. The engineer will also be able to spot any potential issues before they become expensive repairs as well as to advise you on any queries or worries that you may have regarding your boiler.