What should I do to protect against a heating boiler problem
What should I do to protect against a heating boiler problem
The gas boiler in your home is generally ignored in the summertime when warmth is plentiful, but if it does suddenly stop working, you may be stuck with measly kettle fulls of hot water and chilly cold showers everyday. It is strange though that the central heating system is never considered to be an important piece of equipment until it stops working. Right away it comes to the front of the agenda with a recognition of its importance and the costly nature of its maintenance.
If you live in a rented house, your landlord will take care of all the finances related to heating boiler servicing. But if you’re a homeowner, you may want to think about putting a little aside to cover the costs should anything go wrong.
You might consider investing in a new boiler model if your previous one is older than ten years, it would cut the cost of your fuel especially if the new one is a high-efficiency model and it would be less prone to breakdown. The type of central heating system that you should buy would depend upon your existing gas boiler type, the size of your family and the amount of space in your home. The most common type is the combi central heating boiler, it is perfect for small homes and for people who want hot water quickly. Combi boilers eliminate the need for water tanks as it heats the water as it draws it through the plumbing system. With a combi hot water is available instantly but if some one runs hot tap while you are having a hot shower be ready to jump out quickly as it turns cold.
Another type of gas boiler is the sealed system heating boiler which has a hot water storage tank and is usually used for large families, as it allows several showers and hot water taps to work at the same time. This boiler can easily be installed within hours and doesn’t require excess space. Compared to a combi gas boiler, a storage heating boiler heats water slowly; after depletion, a fresh tankful can take some time to be replenished.
If you live in an older home chances are that you have an open vent boiler system, which takes up more space with two water tanks which are in the loft and a storage cylinder which is usually in the airing cupboard. This has similar benefits and disadvantages to the sealed systems as it enables several taps to be used at once, but you will have to wait for the water to heat and pressure is sometimes an issue.
A Back boiler is another heating boiler which provides good water pressure, allows several water outlets but occupies quite a bit of space. Traditionally back boilers are stored in a chimney breast, but unless you already have one, it’s probably not worth switching to one. However repairing an existing back gas boiler or replacing it with a new back heating boiler can result in better efficiency and reduced long term costs.
But, no matter what kind of heating boiler you have in your home it can be very expensive to repair. That is why it is important to get heating insurance so you can be confident that any costs will be taken care of if something breaks down, costs which cover labour and spare parts for your boiler. Buy an insurance plan that includes an annual breakdown contract and emergency house calls and repairs when needed; you will save some extra money and mean you never have to shiver in your shower again.