A Simple Pre-Winter Boiler Checklist for Homeowners in West Molesey
The worst time to discover a boiler problem is the first genuinely cold week of the year, when everyone else has had the same idea and engineers are booked solid. A few checks in early autumn can catch most issues before they turn into an emergency.
1. Book the annual service early
A yearly service is the single biggest thing that prevents winter breakdowns. Booking in September or October, rather than waiting for the first cold snap, means a far better chance of a convenient appointment time.
2. Check the boiler pressure
Most boilers show pressure on a small gauge, and it should typically sit between 1 and 1.5 bar when the heating is off. If it is consistently low, that is worth mentioning when booking a service rather than waiting for it to cause a bigger problem.
3. Bleed the radiators
A radiator that is cold at the top but warm at the bottom usually has trapped air. Bleeding it (releasing the air with a radiator key) is a five-minute job that makes a real difference to how efficiently the whole system heats up.
4. Test the heating before you need it
Put the heating on for twenty minutes on a mild day, well before the first genuinely cold one, so there is time to book an engineer if something is not working as it should.
5. Know where the stopcock is, and check it actually works
Every household should know where the main stopcock is, in case of a burst pipe or leak. Knowing where it is isn't quite enough on its own, though: a stopcock that hasn't been turned in years can seize up, and that only becomes obvious in the middle of an emergency, exactly when you need it to work. Turn it gently a quarter-turn and back, off and on, once or twice a year, so it stays free rather than becoming another problem on top of the leak itself.
CallGas offers boiler servicing across Walton-on-Thames, West Molesey and the surrounding area. Booking early for the autumn is the best way to avoid a mid-winter wait. Call 07973 793306 to get booked in.
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