Protecting against gas boiler breakdowns
Protecting against gas boiler breakdowns
It’s easy to heat up your home during summers however you can meet a lot of problems if your boiler stops working as winter approaches unless you are used to talking cold showers. A central heating system is that hidden part of the home which is rigorously used and not noticed until it stops working. And then you realise how important, not to mention expensive, it really is.
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 central heating system cover. However, for homeowners it is always a good idea to make sure you have a little money saved to pay for any unforeseen malfunctions.
New high-efficiency boilers can reduce your fuel bills dramatically so if your boiler is over ten years old it may be time to think about investing in a newer model. The type of central heating 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. For smaller homes with fewer people a combi boiler tends to be the most common choice, especially if you want instant hot water at mains pressure. This gas boiler heats up the water through the mains as used and therefore a storage tank is not required. With a combi hot water is available instantly but if some one runs hot tap while you are having a hot shower be ready to jump out quickly as it turns cold.
Another type of boiler is the sealed system heating boiler which has a hot water storage tank and is usually used for large families, as it allows several showers and hot water taps to work at the same time. The system gas boiler is quick and easy to install, and doesn’t take up too much space. But if hot water is used too quickly it would run out because the storage tank hot water would be depleted and is replenishment is not instant.
The most space is taken , two water tanks in the attic and a storage cylinder in the upstairs airing cupboard, by a open vent heating boiler normally found in older houses. An open vent central heating boiler provides plenty of hot water that can be used simultaneously, just like a sealed central heating boiler, but again here too heating takes time and the pressure is not as good as with a combi central heating system.
The fifth type is a back boiler which is bulkier, but can deliver hot water to several outlets under good pressure. 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. It is great if your new home has a back gas boiler already as this type of gas boiler costs less to install, if you need to replace your back central heating boiler it is better to replace the old one with the same type rather than getting a new type of heating boiler installed.
Whichever central heating system your home has, it can be costly to repair. That is why it is important to get heating insurance so you can be confident that any costs will be taken care of if something breaks down, costs which cover labour and spare parts for your boiler. As a final thought remember that you can save yourself an extra amount per year if you take out a central heating system breakdown policy that covers annual boiler inspections as well as call-outs and repairs.