Time for a Central Heating Check Up

When the leaves on the trees don their gold and crimson jackets it's a sure sign that winter is just around the corner. Cold days and frosty nights will soon be with us, coercing the central heating system in your property to start working overtime.  But, before the heating switch is 'thrown in anger' for the first time this winter, it is more than worth having the system checked over by a professional. A full central heating check up will reveal any potential glitches in your heating system - glitches that could give you a real headache in the depths of winter if left unchecked.

Potential Central Heating Troubles
Central heating systems are very much like cars. They're great when they are working, but to keep them humming along efficiently they need regular care and attention.
Neglecting the central heating system in your property is just inviting trouble. Anything from blocked pipes to carbon monoxide poisoning from the boiler could surface as a result. And believe me, if it is the latter, you'll be doing more than just kicking yourself for not having had your central heating system serviced this year.
So, what does a central heating check up involve? Ideally it should comprise the following inspection points…
Boiler: Efficiency of the boiler's heat exchangers should be checked, along with the boiler's seals and ignition system. Importantly, the boiler's burners must be scrutinised. If the burners are not fully consuming fuel a build up of lethal carbon monoxide may well be underway.
Flues & Ventilation: Flues and vents must be examined to ensure that they are free from obstruction. A flue blockage may cause a deadly cocktail of flue gases to collect in the room where the boiler is located.
Pump: The pump is at the heart of a property's hot water system. An inspection should make sure that it is operating as efficiently as possible. Sludge and lime scale are the chief culprits of pump inefficiency. These deposits reduce heat output from radiators in the property, beginning with the radiators furthest away from the pump.
Radiators: Radiators too may suffer from the build up of sludge and lime scale deposits. If the lower portion of a radiator remains cold when the central heating is on, it is likely that sludge and lime scale are to blame.
Should the opposite be true - that is the top section of the radiator is cool when the heating system is switched on - trapped air in the radiator unit is most probably the cause. This can easily be remedied by bleeding the radiator(s) in question.
Feed & Expansion Tank: Normally located in the property's loft space, the feed and expansion tank is an integral part of the central heating system. The ball valve and washer are subject to wear and erosion over time. This may lead to water leakage into the tank and out through the overflow pipe.
Central Heating Service Solution for Landlords
For landlords, keeping abreast of central heating checks is just one of the many commitments that must be juggled in an industry fraught with red tape. If your property has a gas-fired boiler you are of course obligated by law to subject it to an annual safety check courtesy of a CORGI registered engineer.
Forgetting, or worse, choosing not to book a gas safety check and central heating service could, quite literally, land you in hot water. Not only will you have unhappy tenants and quite possibly a large repair bill, you could, in the case of lapsing on your annual gas safety check, be fined and imprisoned.
Central heating service providers understand this, and is the reason why landlords are offered annual service contracts on their boilers and central heating systems. When the consequences are considered, skipping out on your boiler and central heating check up this year is simply not worth the risk.
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