Every October our heating engineers get the same calls: the boiler that worked all summer will not light on the first cold night. Most of those calls could have been a service in September.
Five things to check
Look at the pressure gauge: it should read between 1 and 1.5 bar when the heating is off. Bleed any radiator that is cold at the top. Check the condensate pipe outside is not blocked. Make sure nothing is stored against the boiler. And find the manual, with the model number on its cover.
The sound to listen for
A kettling noise, like water about to boil, means scale or a pump starting to fail. It rarely mends itself, and it is the most common reason a boiler stops in January.
When to book a service
Once a year, ideally in September or October, before every engineer in the city is busy. It takes about an hour, keeps the manufacturer's guarantee valid and is included in Home Care.
