Essential Boiler Checks and Servicing Tasks
Boilers are an essential part of many homes. They keep us comfortable and clean. It is vitally important that boiler units are regularly checked and serviced by somebody that knows what they are doing. Poorly serviced boilers can develop inefficiencies and dangerous gas leaks. Here are some of the main components and areas that professionals check when undertaking a boiler service.
Electrical Connection Checks
Although most boilers use gas, they still rely on electricity for control, switches and safety mechanisms. Boiler service professionals need to have a solid understanding of the electrical makeup of units that they are checking. Bad electrical connections are responsible for a variety of boiler breakdown types. Search for an ‘annual boiler service near me’ to find an expert that can regularly check this essential aspect of home safety.
Gas Pressure and Flow
Boiler engineers and qualified plumbers will always check the flow of gas to your boiler during a service. Most combi, system and heat only boilers are gas fired – meaning that their heat exchangers or heating cylinders operate by burning combustible gasses found deep beneath the earth. Gas blockages and leaks also constitute very real dangers. Gas is highly combustible, and any leak can drastically increase the risk of a house fire. A recent fatal explosion in Birmingham was linked to a likely gas leak. If the gas flow to a boiler is inhibited by a blockage or pipe leak, then the boiler will also be far less reliable and efficient.
Seal Checks
The combustion and case seals on a boiler must be regularly checked so as to prevent leaks from occurring. The combustion chamber seal is especially important: this is the chamber in which natural gas is ignited. Any leak from this area drastically impacts performance and could lead to dangerous gas leaks.
Flue And Combustion Checks
The flue is the piping that enables gasses to move from the combustion chamber to the outside of a home. It is essential that the flue is clear and appropriately positioned so that gas is safely evacuated. Some boilers – known as condensing boilers – have a flue that recycles hot air and gasses to warm water that is returning to the system. Some countries have regulations that all new boiler installations have to be condensing by law. This is because they are far more efficient and less damaging to the environment than boilers that simply evacuate hot gasses straight out of a building.
Water And Gas Pipework Checks
Boiler service technicians don’t just check the boiler unit itself. Competent professionals will also give attention to the surrounding water and gas infrastructure, as these will impact the efficiency, reliability and safety of boiler units. You’ll be able to tell a good service professional from a bad one by gauging how much of a holistic approach to the servicing of an entire system they have. Often the boiler itself will be free of faults but will have its effectiveness curbed by water and gas infrastructure that needs an update.
