Preparing Your Home's Heating for Winter
A few checks before the cold weather sets in reduce the chance of a breakdown on the coldest night of the year, when engineers are busiest and everyone else has the same problem..
A few checks before the cold weather sets in reduce the chance of a breakdown on the coldest night of the year, when engineers are busiest and everyone else has the same problem.
The boiler and system
Book a service if it's due, check the pressure is correct, and bleed any radiators that have been cold at the top since last winter.
The pipework
Insulate exposed pipes in the loft and garage, and check the condensate pipe route since this is the most common cause of winter boiler lockouts.
The controls
Confirm your thermostat and any timers are set sensibly for the season, rather than still running a summer schedule.
Get ready before the cold arrives
Book a pre-winter check now and avoid competing for an appointment during the first cold snap.
Questions we get asked
When should I do this?
Early autumn is ideal, before demand for engineers picks up with the first cold snap.
What's the single most common winter fault?
A frozen condensate pipe causing the boiler to lock out is one of the most frequent winter callouts we see.
Is it too late to prepare once it's already cold?
No, but book sooner rather than later since winter is our busiest period for both servicing and breakdowns.