Autumn is one of the busiest times for boiler servicing and call-outs as it is the first time most people have turned on their boiler after months of it sitting doing nothing. As you can imagine in some cases this will cause issues especially where older boilers are concerned.
One of the most common faults is the seizing or clogging up of parts normally caused by a lack of use. The best idea is to arrange a boiler service for the end of the summer as this will ensure that your heating is fully functional and safe for the winter months ahead.

Boiler insurance is a great option that many people avoid as it can be viewed as an un-necessary expensive yet with the right package you will receive full cover for breakdown and repairs, servicing and even ongoing maintenance of your boiler.
To help you for just now, here’s some top tips:

Run your heating regularly
Even in the warmer weather be sure to turn your boiler on at least once a month as this gets all the parts moving and keeps everything running efficiently. It also helps to keep the boiler clear of any debris that will accumulate when it’s not in use.

Service your boiler
Get your boiler checked once a year by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that it’s running efficiently and safely.

Fit a carbon monoxide detector
Your boiler should be fitted with a carbon monoxide detector give you early warning if there’s a leak. If it turns out you have a leak call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

Never block in your boiler
It is essential you never cover your gas boiler and be sure not to block the air
vents. It is also a good idea to make sure the outside flues are clear too.

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Things to remember
If there is an additional pipe extending from the drainage pipe when you install a water heater, take time and care to reconnect this pipe when you finish. This could be one of the recirculation pipes, which helps your water stay warm without wasting it.

Never over-tighten a pipe as it can actually be worse than an under-tightened one! If you tighten it too much the threads can break and might even crack the pipe; pipes should be tightened only enough to stop leaks.

If your pipes are making squeaking and hammering noises, it can often be very simple to fix. By anchoring the exposed pipes you will be able to reduce the amount of noise your plumbing system makes. However you are going to need a professional tradesman if the pipes are located in the ceiling, walls, or the floors.When looking to find a good plumber, don’t forget to check with a couple of different tradesman and ask for references if possible.

It’s a good idea to make sure everyone living in your house knows how they can shut off your home’s water in case of an emergency. You want everyone to be aware of what needs to be done in order to cease the flow of water throughout your house when the threat of water damage may occur from flooding. Everyone can stop the flow of water if they are aware of the shut-off valve.

As shown, there are quite a few things that can you can do to keep your plumbing in good condition without having to pay for a professional. So try applying what is mentioned here, and we shall build on that knowledge with further articles.

Have any good plumbing tips to share? Just drop us a comment and we can include them in the next post.

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But there’s nothing wrong with that at all. The aesthetic side of home improvement is of course important, but to me it’s more kind of like a finishing touch – a luxury to think about once you’ve got your plumbing tickety boo, your wiring pukka, the roof in good order, and all the rest of it. Of course not being a professional city & guilds qualified kind of dude, that means things like fixing the roof get done by the professionals – also I’m man enough to admit that I don’t like heights. Not actually *frightened* of ‘em or anything – it’s just that I start to get tremors and feel odd above about, I dunno, twenty feet or something. As you can imagine my first and only trip on the London Eye was delightful :-/

Anyway – so my point is this – it’s the getting your hands dirty, tough-but-essential jobs around home improvement that I reckon get you the kudos and the medals. Well maybe not in reality, but I like to *think* they do…

So, which jobs are the most vital?

Well that’s a subjective question, innit. I myself am a big fan of making sure the house is energy efficient, so one job that should always be done to a T is your insulation. My older relations (God love ‘em) seemed to think that a comfy cosy house was one where you kept the cold out rather than the warmth in. Hence the expense! It can’t have been easy for them, though, back in the day what with single glazed windows and old fashioned central heating.

Insulating your loft shouldn’t be rocket science. In fact it shouldn’t even be GCSE science! Although some lessons from the hazy past of your schooldays are worth bearing in mind here – namely: heat rises. therefore: lofty insulation is essential. Otherwise it’s just money disappearing, dissipating and leaving forever up round the rafters when it should be keeping your home warm. And of course you’re not just saving money but you’re cutting down on the carbon output too so there’s a genuine pat on the back for your troubles.

And you can make further savings (how much do I like that phrase? a lot!) by getting down to the details of draught proofing your home. This will require a little bit of effort and maybe even some detective work to find out those areas of the house that are letting out heat when they could be sealed up. Think obvious: doorframes, doors (yes, even the keyhole can be letting heat escape), windows – and so on. Then set about draught proofing. You’ll feel lovely when you;ve got the job done, knowing that you’ll be more snug come the cold windy days and – of course – a few quid better off!

Lovely jubbly! Until next time, then. Oh and by the way of you have any tips or questions – you know what to do!

Through the keyhole: behind many a stately front door is … a sensible draught excluder.

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So whilst it might seem like a waste to spend money on a boiler service when nothing’s actually wrong it’s well worth it to save you the hassle of something actually going wrong. Now to help you out with the care of your boiler we have 3 quick tips that will hopefully help keep you from any major boiler based problems.

1. How you can lower the chances of a complete boiler breakdown:
When you choose to have your boiler serviced regularly you minimise the chances of your home being left without heating and hot water. And when you manage to avoid a full boiler breakdown it means there is less money needed for really expensive repairs or having to completely replace your boiler.

2. Safety must be the first priority:
By getting regular checkups you are able to make sure that your boiler isn’t leaking any carbon monoxide which is extremely poisonous. Without regular boiler servicing you are genuinely putting your health at risk.

3. It can save you money on your energy bills:
Just because your boiler is working doesn’t mean it’s working to the best of its ability, and therefore it might not be as energy efficient which in turn means that you could save more money by having it checked.

So in short a boiler service can keep you safe, save you money and keep your home warm. Just make sure it’s a Gas Safe Registered engineer that’s carrying it out.

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Not only does it save you money but given all the water problems just now this is a great trick to help out.

Behold the fantastic Toilet Tank Trick….

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There is however another strata of failed projects and ideas. These are so unbelievably bad you have to question the sanity of the people that produced them.

We thought it would be fun to highlight 8 of the worst DIY and Home Improvement fails that we’ve came across on the internet.

Radiator as a grill

Imagining the smell this would produce makes one cringe

Bulb still in the packet

The laziness of some knows no bounds – not exactly the brightest lamp in the shop this person….

Not the greatest advert for business

This lot must be busy……

Garage needs a bit more space……..

Not the ideal parking position

Make your own car badge

To be honest, there is an entire website in automotive DIY fails – we did like this DIY Merc logo……

Dual switch system fail

We can’t see this catching on to be honest, looks a little clumsy (not to mention dangerous)

We could be lifted……

Using a crane to lift a new bathroom unit? Best be sure it’s got a solid base………

‘Home Improvement’ Fails compilation

We were always big fans of Tim Allen’s Home Improvement show in the 90s – it has some great characters and scenarios. This video is a compilation of his many DIY fails, of which there were many!

Thanks for reading, if you have any DIY fails of your own or if there are others you think we should know about then please let us know…….

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The thing is armed with this knowledge you’ll be able to make sure that you don’t fall victim to any incomplete services or a service that generally just falls short of the mark. After all your boiler is a very dangerous appliance and if not treated properly could cause a lot of harm. Therefore it’s best that you know what’s required to keep it in tip top working order.

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One of the most expensive and common problems people face is their boiler going bust. Having experienced this last year, I am only too aware that a freezing cold house is not a fun way to spend the holidays. Yet last year I was one of 3 million households that experienced damage due to the adverse weather conditions.

So if you want to make sure you stay nice and cosy this winter plan ahead and get your boiler serviced by a certified professional. I’ve included this helpful video from Which.co.uk

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The best way to find out what is available to you is to check out the Energy Savings Trust website. The boiler scrappage scheme has just finished in England and Wales, but is now open to those living in Scotland, and offers money towards a new boiler in an attempt to reduce emmisions. But this is one example of a grant, and you can use the website to search the options suited to you.

If you’re looking for savings you should also hunt about to find the best deal – I found an offer on SSE Home Services offering £250 off a new boiler and two years free cover – saving me a massive £450. I also save money on my monthly bills because the new boiler is a lot more efficient than my old one. Bargain!

Finally, my last tip is to urge anyone getting their boiler upgraded to check the company doing the work is on the Gas Safe Register – when it comes to gas in the home, safety is paramount, no matter what the price is.

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