Author: EDGEcreative

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6 Top Tips For Protecting Your Boiler Ahead Of Winter

Most of us don’t give our Central Heating a second thought while it’s working as it should be, however this could be a costly mistake.

With Winter fast approaching, it’s essential that you take the time to prepare and protect your boiler, making sure it’s in optimum working order. With just a few simple checks, you can help to reduce the risk of your boiler failing when you need it most.  

Insulate your pipes

A common Winter fault with modern condensing boilers is the pipe that removes the condense water from the boiler can freeze. If the pipe becomes blocked, the boiler can fail.

Before Winter starts, it’s worth taking the necessary steps to protect the pipe as much as possible. If your condense pipe runs externally, is in an exposed area or in a location that is prone to cold conditions, you should ensure a good quality waterproof lagging is secured around the pipe. This will help to reduce the risk of it freezing. Also make sure any drains that the pipe terminates into are clear from debris and leaves. 

If your pipes are already frozen or starting to freeze, remove the lagging and pour tepid water over the pipe or wrap a hot water bottle over it. Once thawed, refit the lagging and keep your boiler running at a low temperature during any prolonged cold periods. You should avoid using boiling water when doing this as you run the risk of cracking the pipes.

You should also make sure any water pipes in the loft or other exposed areas are fully insulated. During very cold periods, it is wise to leave the heating system on low throughout the night and open any loft hatches to get as much heat into the area as possible.

Find out more on how to thaw and prevent frozen condensate pipes.

Check and bleed your radiators

Switch your heating on as normal and once your home is fully heated, check each of your radiators for cold spots. If you find any, you should turn off the heating and once it has cooled down, bleed the radiator to remove any trapped air.

If you have a pressurised system, you may need to top up the boiler pressure after bleeding your radiators.  See our tips on how to bleed a radiator for a helpful video for help with this.

Cold spots can also be the beginning of a wide range of issues, so if after bleeding your radiators they still feel cold, contact us so we can come out to check your system, and advise you of the options available to improve your systems performance.

Check your boiler pressure

Another common cause of heating failures can be due to low boiler pressure, which is typically caused by a reduction in the amount of water in a system. Low pressure is relatively easy to diagnose and in some cases you will be able to put it right yourself.

Most boilers operate between 1 and 1.5 bar. If your boiler pressure is below this, it’s important that you get to the source of the reason why.

If you have recently bled your radiators, you may have lost water from the system. To replace this water you should use the filling loop on your boiler.  You can usually find out how to do this by taking a look at the operator’s manual or by watching helpful guides on our website.

The other reason for a loss of water pressure could be a leak somewhere in your boiler system. Take a look around your home for signs of damp patches around your pipes, radiators and boiler.  You should never take the casing off your boiler to look leaks inside, as only a Gas Safe Engineer should do this.

If your boiler pressure is too high, you may have a fault inside of the boiler. It is therefore essential that you arrange for an engineers’ visit.  You can reduce the pressure in your boiler by bleeding a radiator to remove some of the water.  Please be careful doing this, open the bleed nipple slowly and don’t open it too far.

Add a filter system to the boiler

To help your boiler stay healthy for longer you can install a magnetic filter system, which is an effective way of removing debris and impurities from the water running through your central heating system.

Most boiler manufacturers will insist on one being fitted as part of their guarantee terms and conditions.  These can also be fitted retrospectively to any heating system (subject to the space being available on the heating pipework). 

It will help to prevent the magnetite sludge from entering the boiler and circulating around your heating system. This reduces the risk of blockages occurring and the premature failure of many heating components.

If you would like to find out more about installing a magnetic filter system, please contact us on 0333 366 1121.

Test your carbon monoxide alarms

Carbon Monoxide can be fatal so it’s essential that you have a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home. Check the date on your alarm and if this has passed, make sure you replace it. You should also test the batteries on your alarm and make sure they’re still working.

Check your carbon monoxide alarm is in the right place. Your alarm should be anywhere there’s a potential source of CO and so should be close to your boiler or gas appliance and placed about 5ft above the floor.  

Service your boiler

The easiest way to protect your boiler is to ensure you have your boiler serviced annually.

The engineer will check for any wear and tear and they’ll also be able to identify any small problems before they develop into bigger and potentially more costly ones.

Regular checks and maintenance will keep your boiler running efficiently and reduce the risk of breakdowns occurring.

At Butco, a FREE annual boiler service and safety check is included as part of our BoilerCare plans. Prices start from just £9.75 a month.

How We Can Help

Our dedicated team of engineers prioritise the safety and comfort of our customers.

At every service we ensure that your boiler is operating safely and efficiently, and our central heating boiler service plans include a free annual boiler service and safety check, with a 24-hour callout service.

Contact us today to see how we can help you. Learn more about our BoilerCare plans by talking to our friendly, local team on 0333 366 1121 or by emailing us at info@butco.com.

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How To Tell When Your Boiler Needs an Upgrade

The boiler is the unsung hero of your home. Whilst it’s easy to overlook it, you will soon wish you hadn’t when your hot water or heating stop working!

It’s so important to take care of your boiler with regular servicing and maintenance so that you can help prevent a boiler breakdown and reduce the risk of potential damage to your home and health. This means that it’s vital to know the signs that your boiler needs an upgrade, and if you spot them, to organise an emergency boiler service.

Whilst regular services will help maintain your boiler, there will come a time when it needs to be replaced. Here are some of the top signs to look out for that your boiler needs an upgrade:

Your boiler is leaking

It goes without saying that when your boiler is leaking, it’s a clear sign that something is wrong. A leaky boiler could indicate that a seal or another internal component of the system has broken. If you leave a boiler to leak water, it can cause significant damage to other components in the boiler, or even short-circuit your electric.

Your radiators aren’t heating up properly

Faulty radiators are definitely something you’ll want to avoid in the winter months. It can be difficult to notice radiator problems while the weather is warmer, but it’s still important to check all your radiators when you turn them back on again. If your radiators are taking too long to heat up, it could be a sign your boiler needs an upgrade. Alternatively, your heating system might be blocked and may need cleaning out.

Your energy bills have increased

As your boiler gets older, it can become less efficient, costing you more to run it each year. Rapidly increasing energy bills can be a sign that your boiler isn’t working as well as it used to, and might need a service or an upgrade. For an inefficient boiler, you’ll need to contact a boiler service provider to help solve the problem or even replace the boiler if necessary. This can be costly, but if you invest in boiler and heating cover, you can potentially reduce the risk of an unexpected bill.

Your boiler is making too much noise

All boilers should make some noise when they’re on, however if your boiler is making loud, or unusual noises you’ve not heard before, it could be a sign that there is something wrong. Banging noises might indicate that something is broken within the boiler, meaning it should be turned off as soon as possible and an engineer should be called out to avoid further damage.

The boiler smells bad

If your boiler is working normally, there shouldn’t be any smell at all. If you notice any unusual or bad smells coming from your boiler, you must turn it off and contact an engineer right away, as this could be extremely dangerous. A foul, egg smelling odour can indicate a potential gas leak, which presents a significant fire risk.

Another smell that can leak from the boiler can be due to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide in itself is odourless, however a leak of this gas can produce a smell if your boiler isn’t burning fuel properly. Carbon monoxide is an extremely dangerous gas that can cause illness or even death in high doses, so if this is the case, you must evacuate your home and call an engineer. To help detect this, you can install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

Your heating isn’t working as well as it used to

If your heating is simply just not working as well as it used to, and is frequently breaking down, this could be a sign that your boiler may be coming to the end of its useful life, leading to pricey repair bills. For a fixed fee, one of our expert engineers will carry out a full inspection of your boiler.

How Butco Can Help

Recognising the signs that your boiler needs an upgrade is important, however, to prevent against unexpected bills and issues that can leave your home without heating, it’s essential to invest in a good quality boiler service cover plan. At Butco, we can provide boiler cover with service, meaning we can support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To learn more about our BoilerCare plans, talk to our friendly, local team by calling 0333 366 1121 or email us at info@butco.com.

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3 Top Tips for Staying Safe This Gas Safety Week

Gas safety is important all year round, but it’s not always a household’s first priority. With this week being Gas Safety Week – coordinated by Gas Safe Register – we wanted to provide some information and top tips to our customers for staying safe at home. 

Whether it’s heating your home or running a warm bath, we all use gas every day. While tucked away in the garage or hallway cupboard, your boiler can be easily overlooked, but it’s an integral part of the home that, if neglected, can cause serious problems.

Boiler emergencies, like leaking water or gas, can pose a huge risk to not only your home, but also your health. For example, in some cases, faulty boilers can emit carbon monoxide, with effects that range from mild symptoms to severe illness and even death.

What is carbon monoxide?

In order to generate heat for your home, your boiler will need to burn fuel, and in most boilers, the action of burning fuel will emit two things as a result: carbon dioxide and water.

When your boiler is not burning fuel correctly – for example, if there’s not enough oxygen – it can emit carbon monoxide as a waste gas instead. Often, these waste gases can be carried out of your home via a flue, but in some cases the gas might be released into your home.

Carbon monoxide is an odourless and colourless gas that can be very difficult to detect without a carbon monoxide detector. It’s different to carbon dioxide, because it contains one atom of oxygen instead of two. It’s this difference that can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if you breathe a lot of it in.

What is carbon monoxide poisoning?

When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it enters your bloodstream via the lungs. When it enters the bloodstream, it prevents your red blood cells from carrying oxygen around your body. 

This can cause mild symptoms such as a headache and dizziness, and in higher doses it can cause neurological symptoms as well as loss of vision. In high enough doses, or in certain cases of prolonged exposure to the gas, it can cause loss of consciousness or death.

Our top tips for staying safe

At Butco, we’re passionate about keeping our customers safe, so as part of Gas Safety Awareness Week, we’ve created a list of 3 simple tips you can take on board to keep your home and your family safe.

  1. Know the risks

To stay safe, it’s important to know the risks of a faulty boiler. If you don’t get your boiler serviced regularly, or if you ignore issues when they happen, you can increase the risk of a gas leak or carbon monoxide exposure in your home. 

At Butco, we’re proud providers of local boiler repair and cover, with our 24/7 boiler care and customer support. If you’re looking for reliable, friendly engineers with the expertise to get your boiler repaired or serviced quickly, contact us today to find out how we can help you.

2. Check your appliances

You can also perform checks on your appliances in order to ascertain whether there may be a problem. 

If your gas appliances or boiler are burning with a yellow flame instead of a blue one, it could be a sign that your boiler could be emitting carbon monoxide. It’s also important to understand when your boiler might need a service or an upgrade, which can prevent problems that could pose a risk to your safety.

3. Understand the warning signs

While carbon monoxide is odourless, tasteless and colourless, there are still warning signs you can watch out for. For example, if you see black marks near your boiler, it could be a sign that your flue is leaking into your home. 

The pilot light on your boiler is also a clear indicator, as a yellow flame could be a sign that your boiler is leaking carbon monoxide. Another sign of a carbon monoxide leak is increased condensation in the room where your boiler is. This could be a sign that there isn’t enough ventilation, which can cause a leak of carbon monoxide into your home. 

The best way to monitor carbon monoxide levels in your home is to install a carbon monoxide detector, which can tell you if there are increased levels in the air.

How can Butco help? 

We’re a dedicated team of engineers that prioritise the safety of our customers. 

At every service, we ensure that your boiler is operating safely and efficiently, and our central heating boiler service plans include a free annual boiler service and safety check, with a 24 hour callout service.

Find out more by calling our team on 0121 355 1121 today.

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Landlord Boiler Cover: What It Includes & Why You Need It

As a landlord, you have a range of responsibilities when it comes to maintaining your properties and you must ensure you’re providing your tenants with a home that is protected and secure.  This means you must install and maintain the appropriate heating and security systems.

Studies show that up to 77% of UK residents use central heating to warm their homes during the winter, so chances are, your properties are likely to have boilers installed already.  It is essential that you ensure your properties heating system is maintained and in good working order, so your tenants are warm and safe in their homes.   

What is our BoilerCare Cover and What Does it Include?

Landlord Boiler Cover is an insurance for your heating system that gives you peace of mind knowing that any issues your tenants experience with their boiler could be covered.  By taking out landlord boiler cover with Butco you can remove the need for your tenants to contact you if their heating fails.

Whilst your home insurance may provide some level of boiler cover, you may find that the level of cover may be limited and you will still need to ensure your boiler has been serviced.  If you do not have any boiler cover as a landlord, it’s important you find a suitable boiler service cover plan to fulfil all your needs.

Choosing a dedicated and passionate boiler service provider that offers an industry-leading service and a wide range of cover to suit your requirements is essential.

How Long do Boilers Last?

Boilers will naturally deteriorate from usage over a period of time.   A well-maintained boiler should last between 10 and 15 years, with regular servicing and repairs if needed.

In the UK, the average domestic boiler is used more seasonally. Whilst the UK is familiar with fluctuating weather, we often experience extremely cold temperatures in the winter months, which is when we rely on our boiler systems to keep our homes warm.

How Can You Tell if there is Something Wrong with Your Boiler?

If you or your tenant is worried your boiler is breaking, it’s best to contact our call-out team. 98% of call outs are responded to on the same day, meaning you can rest assured that your tenants remain safe and warm in their homes.

Here are some features you should look for if you’re worried your boiler is breaking:

  • Your boiler is making noises that are louder than usual.
  • Your hot water is not as hot as usual.
  • Your central heating and radiators are not working at optimal efficiency.
  • The boiler itself has difficulty turning on when it should.

How Can Butco Help?

At Butco, our dedicated team of engineers are experts in heating. Our landlord boiler service plans include a FREE annual boiler service and safety check, and we operate a 24-hour callout service for boiler breakdowns. 

Find out what we can do for you by giving us a call on 0121 355 1121 today.

Don’t Just Take our Word for it!

Here’s what some of our customers have to say about our boiler service plans:

“Butco’s plans are great – I found that I can get everything I need for less than £10 a month. Even 24/7 callout for emergencies.”

“Excellent service, came out same day. Would recommend.”

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Safe Practices

During this third lockdown period, we are continuing to operate as normal during our normal working hours, subject to the Government guidelines and safe practices.

Unfortunately due to the restrictions that the current Covid pandemic is putting on our resources our out of hours service is currently only available for our Contract customers. This is to ensure that we can still provide them with the service that they have already paid for. We will be reviewing our out of hours service as soon as the situation with Covid eases. If you do not have a contract with Butco and you have a breakdown outside of hours, you can report it to us on email to info@butco.com or call 0121 355 1121 and leave us a message, and we will respond as soon as the office re-opens. If you would be interested in taking out a BoilerCare Contract, please call or email us, or visit our BoilerCare page for more information.

The Safety of our Customers, Colleagues and Suppliers

Safety of course remains our highest priority. To make sure our customers, colleagues and suppliers stay safe within our offices, we are ensuring that cleaning and hygiene protocols are even more rigorous than usual. All of our staff are following personal hygiene guidance and being asked to regularly wash their hands.

Our engineers have been issued with supplies of gloves, and anti-bacterial supplies. They have been asked to ensure they regularly wash their hands and to wear gloves when in customers’ properties, where supplies allow.

What about House Visits?

It is essential for the future of the business and our staff, that where possible, we are able to carry on providing our normal service levels. We will continue to provide customers with home electrical cover at their properties, in order to service and repair their heating systems, where it is safe to do so.

We are however asking for your help when we are attending your property. Where possible please ensure you keep a minimum distance of 2 metres from our engineer.  Please do not offer refreshments and if you are happy to do so please let the engineer work in isolation. The engineers have been advised that they must limit the movement through any property, so for now we will not check radiators during your annual service, unless you advise us of any specific issues you may have during your home electrical cover visit.

If anyone in the property is self isolating we ask that you let us know before our engineer arrives. Please be advised that should it be necessary our engineer may have to leave a form of temporary heating until you have recovered and it is considered safe for us to enter your property, to repair your boiler in the event of a boiler emergency.

Supply of Spare Parts

We will ensure where possible that our engineers carry the necessary supplies and that their van stock levels are kept at a maximum, in order to reduce the number of calls needed to your property and our repair lead times. However, during these unprecedented times, we cannot guarantee that there will not be delays in the time it takes for us to obtain spares, and we would ask our customers for their understanding and we assure you that we will be doing our very best to limit the time taken for us to complete any repairs.