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10 Top Tips: Central Heating Maintenance

1. Do you know the location of the incoming mains water stop valve in case of an emergency!
2. Do you know where all your other localised stop valves are? Label them and check that they work
3. Do you know where your drain valves are? You might need these to empty your water and central heating systems once the source of heat has been extinguished
4. Are all your exposed pipes and water storage systems properly insulated?
5. Do you use all your pipes and systems regularly during freezing weather? If you have a conventional central heating system, try opening the loft cistern’s lid to let some of the houses heat stop the cistern from freezing
6. Do you inspect your storage system for corrosion?
7. Do you check your flexible pipes and connections to plumbed-in domestic appliances?
8. Do you have dripping taps and ball valves? These are sure signs that your plumbing system requires maintenance.
9. Do you have your plumbing and heating system serviced each year?
10. Is your boiler and radiators in need of replacement for a more efficient model?

1. Ensure all your pipes are insulated / lagged properly
2. Make sure the timer / programmer on your heating system is suitable for your needs
3. Fit thermostatic radiator valves in all your rooms to ensure you don’t heat rooms beyond what is needed
4. Insulate your loft to stop heat from escaping
5. Check for drafts around doors, windows and letterboxes and insulate if needed, close curtains at night and use duct tape to inexpensively stop any drafts in any other ducts
6. Replace old boiler with a modern combination, condensing or sealed system boiler as it can be very inefficient
7. If radiators are installed near cold walls fit a sheet of aluminium behind them to reflect the heat back into the room
8. Keep radiators clear of obstacles to spread the heat out across the room
9. When sleeping add an extra blanket for warmth!
10. Have your boiler and system serviced every year

1. Upgrade you boiler system: a condensing boiler system can be up to 99% efficient (this means it only wastes 1% of the energy that goes into it compared to 45% of a heavy wait old boiler
2. Put the plug in the sink when you wash your hands – reduces the amount of hot water pumped and produced
3. Reducing the thermostat temperature by just 1 degree can reduce your bill by £40 per year
4. Almost 90% of a washing machines expended energy is on heating the water so to reduce this by half, wash your clothes on a ‘warm’ wash rather than a ‘hot’ wash
5. Purchase a boiler as much on running costs as initial costs – a new boiler can save you a noticeable amount each year
6. Do not use your oven to heat your house – it’s very expensive and dangerous!
7. Close your curtains at night
8. Check the quality and packing of your loft, wall and pipe
9. Wear an extra jumper!
10. Do some exercise (eating donuts is not classed as exercise, apparently, but try doing the foxtrot with a friend)

Last Updated: June 16, 2009