Don’t be caught cold by your broken boiler this Christmas

HOUSEHOLDS are being urged to have their boilers serviced, to avoid a freezing cold house over Christmas, after emergency call-outs to fix faulty appliances, rocketed more than 200% over the festive period last year.

According to data from boiler breakdown insurer Prominence Support, there were three times as many boiler breakdowns over the nine-day period from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day last year than during the nine-day stretch leading up to Christmas.

Data also reveals that December is the most common month for boiler breakdowns. During 2018 and 2019, December was twice as busy as November and 15% busier than January.

However, with the country in lockdown last month, Prominence Support reported handling significantly more breakdown call-outs in November than normal, up by more than a third (36%) compared to November 2019.

The increase is likely to be due to millions of families being stuck at home at a time when the weather turned colder. With adults working from home during the day, when typically they would be at work, the heating has been on and boilers have been working overtime.

“No one wants to spend Christmas shivering in a freezing house because the boiler has broken, so make sure that you aren’t caught out,” says Prominence Support’s Lorraine Taylor. “The period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day is the busiest time of the year for boiler call-outs.”

Lorraine adds that there is plenty you can do to make sure your boiler is in good working order for the colder months and offers these tips:

Regular servicing is vital: Have your boiler serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure that it is running safely and efficiently.

If you have a pressurised system, check the pressure regularly and (if required) adjust it so that it mirrors the recommended readings in your boiler’s installation and servicing manual.

Test your central heating timer and room thermostat to make sure they are working properly. Make sure that your boiler condensate pipe is properly lagged, to prevent it from freezing during cold weather.

Check your boiler for black marks, which could indicate a problem of combustion. If you notice any, contact a Gas Safe registered engineer immediately.

Inspect for adequate ventilation around your boiler. If your boiler is located in a cupboard, keep the area around it clear.

Inspect all external vents, flues (chimneys) and air bricks. Are they clear? If you can see the pilot light in your boiler, make sure that it has a strong blue flame. If the flame is yellow or appears to be elongated, contact a Gas Safe registered engineer immediately.

Install a carbon monoxide detector close to your boiler and test it at least once a fortnight.

Many boilers are handling extra strain at the moment