Whether your boiler is new or old it’s vital to get it serviced on an annual basis.
Annual servicing ensures that your boiler is running safely and efficiently.
If you’ve had a new boiler or heating system installed you may think that it doesn’t need a service 12 months later but you will be surprised how the much the CO2 levels can be affected, which is why the first service is important to make sure these levels are brought back in line with the manufacturers instructions.
Standard efficiency boilers (non condensing) should have they’re burner removed and air ways of the main heat exchanger cleaned as standard to ensure no blockages occur and cause incomplete combustion which can lead to carbon monoxide being produced.
High efficiency boilers (condensing) although they are subject to the same procedures are standard efficiency boilers they don’t always require the burner and airways cleaned on an annual basis. At B-Tech Heating we recommend if you have a high efficiency boiler that it has a “standard service” annually and every 5 years a “full service” is carried out where we inspect and cleaned the burner, main heat exchanger, replace ignition probes, replace burner door seals, measure and recharge expansion vessel pre charge if required. These types of boilers have an in built trap that can collect debris from the heat exchanger and lead to a blockage causing the boiler to fail, so it’s important that this is removed and cleaned if necessary.
Few pictures below of both standard and high efficiency boilers being serviced.
Ideal regular boiler with burner removed and heat exchanger cleaned.
Worcester greenstar CDi combination boiler with parts removed for replacement and cleaning.
Ideal Isar with fan and burner removed prior to heat exchanger being cleaned.
Worcester greenstar 25 si with parts removed for replacement and cleaning.
Baxi bermuda 552 with burner removed and heat exchanger exposed for cleaning.
Worcester greenstar CDi ignition probes 8 years old and being replaced.
Servicing doesn’t not prevent your boiler from breaking down this is impossible. Nobody knows when a pump is going to fail or a component on a PCB is going to become faulty it simply can’t be helped and no boiler will go through 15-20 years worth of service and not have any failures.
Servicing can pick up on some issues for instance if your boiler has developed a leak internally that you were unaware of, this can be picked up on a service visit and either rectified at the time or if parts are required booked in again as a repair.
If you are experiencing problems with your boiler please be sure to book in a repair or diagnosis either as part as a service if the appliance is due to be serviced or as a breakdown. We don’t appreciate it when a customer books a service visit and on arrival get told the boilers not working or has a fault, this can lead to our workload for that day being disrupted and on some occasions we had to leave the property with the appliance still not working as we haven’t been able to allocate enough time to carry out a diagnosis and repairs.
The pictures below show two boilers that where neglected and caused so much internal damage they where irreparable.
Ferroli combination boiler, burner seal failed and caused this damage to external case whilst melting the sump.
Sight glass and seal on Worcester greenstar CDi ignition probes failed, a simple fix but it got neglected.
Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous gas that’s produced when in complete combustion occurs. whether you’re using gas, LPG, oil, coal, or wood to heat your home or a room in your home, all these fuels can produce carbon monoxide if they have been poorly maintained, installed or repaired.
Carbon Monoxide poisoning occurs when you breathe in the gas and it replaces oxygen in your bloodstream. Without oxygen, your body tissue and cells die. Even small amounts of the gas can cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning, and long term effects can include paralysis and brain damage.
Six main symptoms to look out for
These symptoms are similar to flu, food poisoning, viral infections and fatigue. This is why Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be easily mistaken for something else. If your symptoms only occur when at home and others or even pets are displaying similar effects then you may be subject to the poisoning.
To provide a second line of defence and alert you before you become exposed to the gas we recommend the use of portable battery powered CO alarms in every room that contains a fuel burning appliance.
We usually carry Honeywell CO alarms as van stock and will install them for you but if you do happen to purchase one yourself please be sure that the alarm has been tested and displays the British standard 50291 and kite mark. These alarms usually cost between £15-£30. Please beware of alarms that have not be tested and approved to the above standard don’t be tempted by the price it could save a life.
If you would like us to call to your property to carry out gas related work then click here to check what we are qualified to work on before making the call.
