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FAQ – Boilers

Here are some common questions about boilers, along with some great tips and tricks to help you take care of it the best way!

Boilers - In General

How do I bleed a radiator?

If you’ve got radiators that take a while to heat up, or you notice them making gurgly sounds, it may be time to bleed your radiator.

Bleeding a radiator involves letting any trapped air out. This video, by our partner Worcester Bosch, shows you step-by-step how to do this.

A vital point to remember is to turn off your heating system before bleeding your radiators – you don’t want to get burnt!

Plus, you may need to top up the pressure again after bleeding your radiators – since air pressure still counts as pressure!

What are the different boiler types?

Combi Boiler

A combination boiler, or combi, is a very compact boiler that provides both heating and hot water with no need for extra water storage. It is an ideal boiler for small to medium homes, or homes with one main bathroom. Watch the video below for a more in depth description!

System Boiler

A system boiler needs an extra hot water storage cylinder, so it can supply hot water to multiple appliances at the same time. Because of this, it is recommended for homes that have two or more bathrooms. Watch the video below for a more in depth description!

Regular Boiler

A regular boiler, also known as traditional or conventional boilers, are used in homes that need a lot of hot water at the same time, so they will have cold water tanks in the attic as well as a hot water cylinder. They may also be used in homes that have older heating systems that are unable to cope with the high pressure given by a system or combi boiler. Watch the video below for a more in depth description!

Why are there different kW boilers?

The general rule of thumb is that the size (kW) of the boiler is judged by the number of radiators in the home, along with the style of boiler (combi, heat only, or system). So, more radiators means you’ll need more energy from the boiler!

Since combi boilers ultimately do more work than a heat only or system boiler, they tend to need higher energy inputs to create the same output. This is because the combi boiler heats up the water for instant use, instead of sending heat to a tank to warm water up slowly and build up a reserve. Meaning the combi boiler will be a higher kW.

There are lots of other factors too, like the size of the house and how many bathrooms you have. We’ll always let you know what size you will need!

How do I thaw out a frozen condensate pipe?

Firstly, condensate is produced by your boiler as a by-product of the burning of fuel inside the boiler. It usually consists of carbon dioxide and water vapour.

A condensate pipe (which can be run inside or outside) is a way for the boiler to get rid of this waste water vapour. It’s usually ran into a drain outside, or even into other waste water pipes inside like a sink or toilet.

However, if the pipe is ran outside, the water passing through runs the risk of getting frozen in the winter months, blocking the pipe. Check out this video by Worcester Bosch to help unfreeze your condensate pipe – should it happen!

How do I top up the pressure on my boiler?

Having a higher boiler pressure allows the water to flow easily through your whole heating system. If the pressure ever drops below 1, the pressure won’t be high enough to push the water around (so you’ll have cold areas where the hot water can’t reach).

Often, you are able to fix this problem yourself. Follow the instruction on this video to see if you can fix it! If not, give us a ring.

My boiler is leaking! What do I do?

Boiler leaks are some of the most common issues with a boiler, and they can be caused by many different factors, such as high pressure or dodgy seals.

As soon as you notice a leak, pop something underneath to catch the water and prevent any water damage, then ring us on 01633 875541 to get someone out to figure out what’s going wrong!

Our history with boilers

We’ve been installing, servicing, and maintaining boilers since 2006, when Shaun Groves started the business. Its always our top priority that every one of our customers gets all the heating and hot water they need. We have since expanded this business into all sorts of other services, fitting and selling stoves, selling BBQs, plumbing, oil and solid fuel, but the heart of our business has always laid with boilers.