Every year it is the same story. The first cold snap hits Liverpool in October, everyone switches their heating on for the first time since spring, and the phone does not stop ringing. Boilers that were working fine in March have been sitting idle for five or six months, and that is when problems show up. A bit of preparation in September can save you a cold, stressful weekend and an emergency call-out bill.
Your Autumn Boiler Checklist
1. Switch It On Before You Need It
Do not wait until the first freezing morning to find out your boiler has a problem. Turn your heating on for an hour in late September, even if the weather is still mild. Let it run, check the radiators are heating up, listen for any unusual noises, and make sure the hot water is coming through properly. If something is wrong, you have got time to get it sorted before the rush.
2. Check Your Boiler Pressure
Over the summer months, boiler pressure can drop. Most combi boilers need to sit between 1 and 1.5 bar. If the gauge is below 1, you will need to repressurise it using the filling loop underneath. Your boiler manual will show you how, or give us a call and we will talk you through it.
3. Bleed Your Radiators
If any radiators have cold spots at the top, there is air trapped in them. Grab a radiator key, hold a cloth underneath the bleed valve, and turn it until you hear a hiss of air escaping. Once water starts coming through, close it up. Work your way around the house, starting downstairs.
4. Book Your Annual Service
If your boiler has not been serviced in the last 12 months, autumn is the time to get it done. A service checks everything is running safely and efficiently, and it keeps your manufacturer's warranty valid. We service boilers across Liverpool, Crosby, Waterloo, Blundellsands, Bootle, and all the surrounding areas.
Common Autumn Problems We See
After 30 years of doing this in Liverpool, these are the jobs that flood in every October:
- Frozen condensate pipes - these run outside and can freeze in cold weather, shutting your boiler down
- Faulty thermostats - batteries die over summer, or the thermostat itself gives up
- Pump seizure - pumps that have not run for months can seize, meaning no hot water circulates
- Airlocks - air gets into the system over summer and stops radiators from heating
Do Not Leave It Until November
Every heating engineer in Liverpool is flat out from November to February. If you call in September or early October, we can usually get to you within a day or two. Leave it until the cold weather hits and you could be waiting. That is just the reality of the trade when demand spikes.
Book Your Autumn Service
Give Discount Heating NW a call on 07967 856375 to book your boiler service or get any niggles sorted before winter. We have been keeping Liverpool homes warm for over 30 years, and we would rather help you prepare than fix an emergency.
