| A broken down boiler can cause havoc in the | | | | the system and reduce the risk of future |
| home; no hot water or heating and expensive | | | | problems. Bleeding your radiator simply means |
| emergency call out charges can make life | | | | releasing the trapped air and is a simple task that |
| miserable so it pays to keep your boiler in tip-top | | | | can be carried out in a few seconds. |
| condition. | | | | To bleed your system you should first of all |
| Having your boiler serviced regularly is one of the | | | | switch off the heating. Next you should locate the |
| best ways to reduce the risk of breakdown. An | | | | bleed valve; this is usually a square shaped valve |
| annual service can keep your boiler ticking over | | | | which can generally be found on one side of the |
| nicely and can also save you around 15% off | | | | radiator near the top. |
| your household energy bills. | | | | You need a radiator key to open the valve. When |
| There are several organisations you can contact | | | | the valve is open you will be able to hear air |
| in order to book a gas service and in the United | | | | escaping. When water begins to dribble out this |
| Kingdom, some of the main energy suppliers | | | | means all the air has escaped and you can tighten |
| offer competitive prices. You can even book your | | | | the valve again. |
| boiler service online with some companies so you | | | | To keep your boiler happy make sure the air |
| can organise everything in your own time at the | | | | vents and external flues aren't blocked. You |
| click of a button. | | | | should also run your central heating at least once |
| You can also protect your home against sudden | | | | a month, even in summer, to keep everything |
| problems that can hit the pocket hard by opting | | | | ticking over and to clear the boiler pump of any |
| for an annual gas boiler cover or central heating | | | | grit or sludge that tends to gather when it's not in |
| cover. | | | | use. |
| You may also find that gas engineers can service | | | | To be absolutely sure your boiler is being checked |
| other gas appliances such as gas fires, gas water | | | | over by experts you should always use a Gas |
| heaters and gas wall heaters so you can make | | | | Safe registered engineer. The Gas Safe Register |
| sure all the gas operated items in your home are | | | | replaced CORGI as the register for gas installers |
| safe and sound. | | | | on 1 April 2009 and is a legal requirement for any |
| If you are a landlord, remember it is your | | | | one working with gas. Using a fully qualified and |
| responsibility to carry out gas safety inspections | | | | approved engineer gives you complete peace of |
| and provide a copy of the gas safety certificate | | | | mind that your boiler is in safe hands. |
| for your tenants. | | | | For added safety you could fit a carbon monoxide |
| It is also possible to keep boiler problems at bay | | | | detector in addition to organising annual gas boiler |
| with a spot of preventative action. Bleeding your | | | | servicing. |
| radiators can help to keep unwanted air out of | | | | |