Category: Heating

The days are getting longer, but they aren’t yet getting warmer. If you’ve had your central heating on over winter, you may have noticed your radiators aren’t quite operating at peak efficiency.

Even if your boiler appears to be working fine, you may find inconsistent patches on your radiators that differ from room to room. If you’ve realised that your radiators are cold at the bottom, don’t panic – you likely don’t need a full boiler repair!

You probably just need to flush out your system. Read on to find out how.

Cold radiators mean inefficient heating

If parts of your radiators are cold, then that means they are not operating at peak efficiency. Given the current cost of living crisis, this could cost you a significant amount of money, especially if you need to turn your boiler up in response to stay warm.

The most likely situation is that your radiator is hot at the top and cold at the bottom. If that’s the case, then the most probable cause is a build-up of sludge clogging your radiator. That sludge will be restricting or redirecting the flow of hot water around your system, resulting in cold spots where the sludge has settled.

The build-up of sludge is a natural and almost unavoidable part of traditional central heating systems, although there is no set rule as to how long it will take to become a problem. It is caused due to the slow erosion of the metal pipework over long periods of time. 

What that means, however, is that a quick visit from a qualified boiler engineer can clear up your systems and get you back to full efficiency in no time!

Sludge can be removed through powerflushing

The main method of removing sludge from a central heating system is through a process called powerflushing, which uses a cleansing machine and magnetic filter to draw out the metallic compounds of the sludge.

This will help unclog the base of your radiators and allow for a more complete flow of hot water around the system. You can then fit a dirt separator or filter into your radiator system to help reduce the frequency of sludge build up and ensure the long-term operation of peak efficiency.

One of the best ways to tell whether you need to powerflush your heating system is to go to the radiator furthest from your boiler and place your hand at the top for a few seconds.

After that, place your hand at the bottom of the radiator for a few seconds. If it feels significantly colder, then it is likely to be at least partially blocked by sludge.

If this is the case, we can help.

Disclaimer: it’s not uncommon for your central heating to be cold at the bottom. Most radiators will naturally be warmer at the top by design, but the problem with sludge comes when the base of your radiator is significantly colder than the top and hardly producing any heat at all.

Butco can powerflush your radiators with one quick visit

Our powerflushing service can help maintain your central heating efficiency, using top of the range equipment and methods to result in a deep clean of your radiators. It will remove the sludge in your system and ensure that your central heating is operating at peak efficiency for longer.

Powerflushing is a quick, one-day job for one of our qualified engineers who will ensure that the system is operating at peak efficiency after completing the procedure.

This way, you can be sure that your central heating is operating at maximum efficiency, helping you reduce your boiler temperature, wastage, and as a result, expenditure.

Our powerflushing services start at just £540 for up to 10 radiators and will provide you with the peace of mind that your radiators will operate efficiently for years to come.

Reach out for a quote today

Whether you’d like to enquire about our powerflushing services or would like to utilise our emergency boiler repair service, we’re here to help.

Our call centre is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning that we can get an expert engineer booked out for a visit in no time. 

Send an email to info@butco.com or call us on 0333 366 1121 to find out more!

It can often be difficult to make the decision to change your boiler, especially given the expenses involved, but there are several reasons why you might need to.

Maybe you previously suffered a boiler breakdown and you’re looking for a more stable upgrade to your central heating, or perhaps your current boiler is quite old, and you are looking for a more efficient alternative.

The only choice left to make is whether you want a gas or electric boiler. Both come with their own benefits and drawbacks, so read on to find out which one would be best for your home!

Gas and electric boilers work in very similar ways

Simply put, the purpose of your boiler is to heat up the water in your home.

Gas boilers do this by burning the natural gas that is supplied to your property, while electric boilers heat up a particular part of the boiler with electricity.

The fact that they are quite similar is good if you’re in need of an emergency boiler repair or are dealing with a boiler emergency as it means that almost all engineers will be trained to deal with a breakage no matter which type of boiler you own.

Gas boilers are currently more popular and powerful

It is estimated that around 80% of homes in the UK are currently fuelled by gas boilers, but this is likely to change as we move towards more sustainable alternatives. This is because the burning of natural gas, a fossil fuel, releases harmful compounds into the atmosphere, contributing towards global warming and climate change.

Until recently, gas boilers were thought to be the better choice in terms of efficiency if you have a larger home. This is because they are typically cheaper to run than electric boilers because they are more powerful and can more easily heat up the water in your home.

However, with recent geopolitical events inflating the price of gas, people are facing significant increases to the costs associated with running a gas boiler on top of having to keep the boiler well maintained and undergoing an annual central heating service on their gas boiler.

Electric boilers are more environmentally friendly.

Electric boilers are a good way to reduce your emissions and, provided the energy comes from renewable sources such as solar panels, then it can allow you to reach a 100% zero-emission performance.

With the Government’s commitment to be Net-Zero by 2050, it is expected that the popularity of electric boilers will rise significantly in the coming years.

Typically, electric boilers have always been more suited to smaller properties or flats due to their inefficiency with high demands for heating and hot water in large homes.

However, as the technology evolves and further developments are made, electric boilers will be more efficient and better suited for larger properties. In a few years’ time, it is likely that an electric boiler will be both cheaper to install and more efficient than a traditional gas boiler!

Aside from the environmental benefits, electric boilers are a lot lower maintenance than their gas counterparts and are easier to install, don’t require an annual service, and there is no risk of a CO2 leak that would require you to call out our specialists for an emergency boiler service.

If you currently have a gas boiler, you may be worried about the complications involved in installing a new electric boiler. Luckily, the installation of and transition to an electric boiler is very easy, as the majority of the plumbing and central heating piping is exactly the same.

In fact, the lack of a flue on electric boilers make them significantly easier to install than gas boilers, and can even be relocated within the property if you need it to be. An old gas pipe can be removed by a qualified, experienced engineer with relative ease.

How Butco can help with your electric or gas boiler plans

As the boiler experts you can trust, our team of specialists can assist with all your heating needs, from the full installation of a new system to 24-hour boiler repair and landlord boiler care.

If you’d like a no obligation chat with one of our qualified engineers to discuss which service could be right for you, get in touch. Send an email to info@butco.com or call us on 0333 366 1121.

From our boiler service and cover plans to the full installation of a new boiler system, we’re here to handle all your heating needs.

In April, energy companies increased the cost of gas and electricity, and with growing inflation, your central heating bill can be one of your most expensive monthly bills. It’s therefore important to ensure you’re doing everything you can to minimise these costs.

To help you achieve this, our expert team has compiled a list of top tips you can do:

Update your boiler

New boilers are significantly more efficient to run and maintain in comparison to older boilers. In fact, some new boilers now come with smart controls, which allow you to have full control of your heating system.

Your heating system could be 90% efficient with a modern condensing boiler, whereas conventional boilers usually have an efficiency level as low as 60%. In addition to this, new boilers with smart controls come with:

• A timer – set a specific time to turn your boiler on or off, and this can be used to programme the temperature for different days of the week.
• Smart thermostat heating system – control your boiler via an app so you can adjust your boiler settings and turn it on or off whilst you’re away from home.

Keep your radiators clean

You should frequently check that the water within your pipes and radiators is clean so that your heating system is more efficient. This also helps with the lifespan of your boiler, as a build-up of sludge in the system water could cause damage to the delicate components in the heating system. Regularly checking the water in the pipes will minimise the risk of this.

If your system has too much sludge, there will be cold spots at the bottom of your radiators, or they may take longer to get warmer. To check that your radiator water system is clean, you will need to powerflush your radiator.

Powerflushing your radiators can help to increase efficiency, as a radiator with copious amounts of sludge can increase bills by 25%.

Set your heaters on a timer

With the timer embedded into the smart control settings, you are in full control of your radiators.

To save money, it’s recommended that you turn your heating system off when you’re away from home, so you can save on energy. However, with modern smart control boilers, you can easily set your heating to turn back on at a specific time, instead of leaving them on all day whilst you’re away.

Set the thermostatic valve on your radiators to low

Many people believe that the higher the radiator thermostatic valves are set to, the faster the radiators heat up, but this depends on the size and settings of your boiler.

To be more efficient, you should keep the valves on a low setting and gradually turn them up until the room is at a comfortable temperature.

Check your heaters are balanced

Imbalanced heating systems can lead to you spending more money than necessary, as the radiators in your home won’t heat up at the same speed. Because of this, you may have to increase individual radiators’ thermostats’ set temperature, so that all the radiators in your home are warm.

For best practice, you must regularly check the temperature of the radiators in your home to ensure they are balanced. With balanced radiators, you’ll be able to keep your thermostat set at a lower temperate and still maintain a comfortable climate in your home.

How we can help

We have a selection of new boilers, including conventional, combi and system boilers. With our online quotation tool, we can provide you with a recommendation and quote to help you find the best boiler suitable for your home.

Contact us today to see how we can help you on 0333 366 1121 or by emailing info@butco.com.

Are you thinking it’s time to replace your tired old boiler, but aren’t sure of the benefits of investing in a brand-new one?

Installing a new and more efficient boiler in your home can have many advantages, from saving money on your energy bills and lowering your carbon footprint to keeping your home nice and warm during the long winter months.

What are the benefits of investing in a new boiler?

• More cost-effective

A less energy efficient boiler can take longer to heat your home, which can result in higher energy bills. Therefore, upgrading your old gas boiler to an A-rated boiler could save you up to £300 on heating your home.

• A warmer home

An ageing boiler will have to work harder to heat your home and with the coldest months of the year now upon us, replacing your boiler is the perfect way to ensure that your home is kept warm and cosy this winter.

• Lower carbon footprint

Replacing your boiler with a new high-efficiency model could also reduce your carbon footprint. Our new boilers are 90% efficient, in comparison to a conventional boiler which can be as low as 60%, which could help reduce the environmental impact of heating your home by 1,220kg of CO2 per year.

Reaching net-zero is becoming increasingly important, especially following the goals outlined during the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow. Find out how these net-zero goals also affect homeowners.

• More reliable

New boilers also tend to be more durable and reliable – saving you even more money in the long run, as it is less likely to need repairing!

• Smart temperature controls

Many new boilers work with smart temperature controls, such as Worcester’s Wave Smart Thermostat and Heating Control, and allow you to power your heating from a mobile device. This can also help monitor and reduce the amount of money you spend on keeping your home warm.

Want to get a new boiler quote? Use our quick online boiler quotation tool!

If I have a new boiler, do I still need boiler and heating cover?

Boiler cover is a great way to protect your boiler and heating system. Even if your boiler is brand new, you will still need to ensure that the boiler is serviced annually, with regular checks to help prevent breakdowns occurring and help maintain the boilers efficiency.

We also provide 24-hour boiler care packages, each of which comes with a FREE annual boiler service!

How can we help?

At Butco, we have been providing high-quality heating and electrical services for over 60 years, and are experts in new boiler installations and central heating maintenance. We offer specialist 24 hour boiler cover including a full annual service on your boiler, helping to give your heating system and boiler maximum protection.

Want to know more about our services? Give our team a call on 0333 366 1121!

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.

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. The target is to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero within the next 30 years.

This is a positive step forward for the UK, as we lead the way to tackle the challenges faced by climate change and carbon pollution.

What is net zero?

Net zero means achieving the balance between the greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere with the amount we remove from it.

The shift towards renewable energy and sustainability resources will provide a solution in tackling the climate crisis, and the government has made it clear that every individual, business and industry must do their bit.

Achieving net zero by 2050 will be a challenge for businesses that can no longer rely on traditional supply chain methods. It’s important to adopt a sustainable approach, focused on lessening the carbon impact with each stage of the lifecycle process. That’s why, here at Butco, we are committed to supporting our clients in making the right choice.

When it comes to our environment, everyone needs to have a responsibility by taking the necessary steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Making changes to our behaviour at home, as well as making improvements to the home itself, can all help to reduce our carbon emissions.

How can households benefit from greener solutions?

The government has already set out plans for new homes to be designed and constructed in such a way that they will use clean heat.

With heating accounting for 37% of the total UK carbon emissions, it’s important that homeowners review their current heating systems, switching for lower carbon alternatives if possible.

For existing properties, the lifecycle of a gas boiler generally lasts for 15 years, during which, systems that run on electricity and/or low carbon gases can be installed. The switch isn’t just great for the environment either, as environmentally friendly boilers can also reduce your energy bills.

Given the different heating options available on the market, it’s essential that every homeowner has access to suitable information and the right advice. Here’s where we come in.

At Butco, our experts are committed to providing the right heating solution for you. We can outline the different options available, letting you know which systems run on electricity or low carbon gases, whilst answering any questions you may have. Find out more about our green boilers by calling our expert team on 0333 366 1121.

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.