Ward Off the problems in a central heating system failure
Ward Off the problems in a central heating system failure
Although you don’t have to worry about heating in the warmer months, everybody needs hot water for washing up, showers and so on, which is why you never want to be caught out with a broken gas boiler. It is only when the boiler breaks down that you become acutely aware of its importance in your home. All of a sudden, following an unexpected problem, it becomes an essential and prominent piece of equipment but rather expensive to repair.
For those of you who are renting, of course you don’t have to worry about repairs and maintenance as the responsibility lies with your landlord and they probably will have landlords heating boiler cover. But if you live in your own house, it will be wise to have a special savings pot or central heating insurance in case something goes wrong with your central heating system.
If your heating boiler is over ten years old, it might be worth investing in a new model; this can cut your fuel costs down considerably, especially if you get a high-efficiency model. The type of gas boiler that you should buy depends on your family size and the available space at your home, the existing central heating boiler also affects your choice. The most common type is the combi heating boiler, it is perfect for small homes and for people who want hot water quickly. A combi central heating boiler draws water and heats it through the mains, doing away with the need for a storage tank. Although it is a great luxury to have on demand hot water at the turn of a tap take care if you’re in the shower when someone runs the hot tap!, the system will have a limited hot water heating capacity.
A sealed boiler system has a storage tank, often in ventilated closet, and allows a big family to simultaneously use the hot tap and take showers without diluting hot water or reducing the water pressure. Such a sealed system is convenient to install and also saves on space. The main disadvantage, however is that you will have to wait for the water in the tank to heat up.
However the boiler which is most commonly used in older homes is the open vent heating boiler, it occupies huge space and consists of a storage cylinder and two water tanks. An open vent heating boiler provides plenty of hot water that can be used simultaneously, just like a sealed central heating system, but again here too heating takes time and the pressure is not as good as with a combi heating boiler.
Lastly, what’s known as a back boiler gives simultaneous access to hot water from several outlets with sustained pressure; but it may need a large area for installation. Back boilers are normally placed in a chimney breast, but they are not the recommended type for your house unless your home already has one. However, if you do already have a back gas boiler system installed in your home and it needs replacing, rather than getting a completely new system, it would be more sensible to get a new back heating boiler installed.
Whichever central heating boiler your home has, it can be costly to repair. You can get some peace of mind if you take central heating insurance because if any thing goes wrong with your heating system your costs will be covered by the insurance supplier or utility company. A gas boiler insurance policy including coverage for yearly central heating boiler inspections and emergency servicing for repairs will go a long way in reducing your annual boiler maintenance expenses.