Getting your gas boiler ready for winter
Keeping your gas boiler in good working order can help avoid unexpected breakdowns when the weather gets colder. A simple gas boiler check during the warmer months can help make sure everything is working properly before you need your heating the most.
Many people don't use their heating during spring and summer. This means problems with your gas boiler may go unnoticed until the colder weather arrives.
Testing your gas boiler before winter can help:
Check your heating is working properly
Spot any issues early
Avoid being left without heating during cold weather
Give you time to report any problems before requests for repairs increases
You can test your boiler by following these 5 steps:
Turn your heating on for 15 minutes and set your thermostat above the current room temperature and switch your heating on
Check your radiators and make sure your radiators start to warm up. They should feel warm across the whole surface after a short time
Listen for unusual noises. If you hear gurgling, whistling, or other unusual noises, there may be an issue that needs attention
Look for warning lights or error codes if your gas boiler displays a warning light or error message, let us know
Check for leaks, look around your gas boiler and nearby pipework for signs of water leaks, damp patches, or dripping water
When testing your gas boiler, you may see an error code appear, you can find out what these may mean in this article
Your boiler pressure needs to be above 1, if it is below this then the pressure will need topping up. You can find out how to do this in this article
When testing your gas boiler, if you find your radiators are cold at the top and warm towards the bottom, they may need to bleeding. You can find out how to do this in this article
Check your thermostat is on and look for a low battery symbol as you may need to replace the battery. You can find out more about them in this article
If you've tested your boiler and found a problem, you can report a repair online through your online account or contact us for support.
Early reporting can help us resolve issues before the colder weather arrives.
