Boiler Installation Mistakes to Avoid

 

When the time comes to replace your current boiler, you should seek the advice of a professional gas safe registered boiler engineer.

 

They will be able to explain everything you need for the new boiler installation.

 

In the United Kingdom, the law states that any gas appliances serviced, repaired or installed, should only be done by a registered engineer.

 

You should not try to replace your boiler yourself, as this breaks gas and building regulations.

 

You could also find you leave yourself open for prosecution with a high penalty.

 

I hear what you say it’s my property I can do what I want within my property, yes but not with gas.

 

If you undertake the installation yourself, your property insurance becomes void, so ensure you use a registered boiler engineer to carry out the installation.

 

When purchasing a new boiler, ensure you get the right one for your property.

 

Boilers all look the same these days you need to get the correct heat output required for your property.

 

When looking at a particular brand, don’t buy the cheapest model, it may look the same as the others, but it could be the wrong model for your property.

 

All boiler installations must now comply with boiler plus regulations, which is about saving energy when using the boiler.

 

An example would be, a new combination boiler installation must now have a minimum of a load compensation thermostat fitted.

 

There are other options to choose from, such as a weather compensator, but it then starts to become somewhat expensive.

 

A common boiler mistake is an undersized gas pipe most boilers now require a minimum of a 22m pipe size within one meter of the boiler.

 

The boiler will still work with an undersize supply but, not to its full potential.

 

It could also be dangerous if undersized, due to the incorrect volume of gas to the boiler.  

 

All gas appliances need to have the correct volume of gas to work correctly.

 

The gas engineer will carry out a gas rating check for each of the gas appliances.

 

Gas rating an appliance proves the correct volume of gas as well as the safety side.

 

When buying any gas appliance always check it is suitable for your gas supply.

 

The main gas supply in the United Kingdom is natural gas if you live in a rural area you may have LPG (liquid petroleum gas) installed.

 

Don’t try to install an LPG boiler on natural gas supply or vice versa.

 

Every new gas boiler installation installed by a registered engineer needs to be registered.

 

Registration is normally with the gas safe register, who in turn notify the local authority.

 

Once the boiler has been registered, you will receive a certificate confirming registration.

 

You need to keep the certificate safe as you will need it when selling your property.

No certificate will cost you in the long term.

 

Failure to register the new boiler will result in the boiler warranty becoming void.

 

There is a misconception that by trying to install your new boiler yourself will save you on the installation costs.

 

The real truth is it will cost you more in the long term as well as the possibility of getting a criminal record.

 

These are just a few of the common boiler installation mistakes we come across every day.

 

We hope this gives you an insight into what a boiler installation now involves.

 

If we can be of help when it comes to replacing your boiler, please let us know.

How Safe Are Your Gas Appliances?

• When was the last you time you had your gas appliances checked over for safety?

  

  
  

  If you are like most people in the United Kingdom then around 80% would have never even thought about it

  until something goes wrong.

  It’s very important to have them checked over, and it could even save you money on those fuel bill.

  When it comes to gas it’s very important to have your gas appliances checked over at least once a year.

  Gas Appliances

  Let’s first look at the boiler

  That supplies the hot water and central heating for your home.

  Most boilers in the United Kingdom are now high efficiency condensing boilers,

  they need to be maintained to keep them running in high-performance mode.

  They are called condensing boilers

  because when they are working they produce condense which is a very weak acid water.

  This water is discharged from the boiler and should be routed into the closest drain or a soak away.

  Sometimes the condense pipe gets blocked and can cause problems with the boiler.

  One of the main reasons they need to be checked on a regular basis is SAFETY.

  As these boilers produce condense which as stated is acidic

  We need to check for any form of leakage within the boiler,

  Should an internal leak occur it could corrode the casing as well as other parts of the boiler the leak may be leaking onto.

  If there is a leak, it could it could become very dangerous over time.

  The condense pipe from the boiler actually forms part of the boiler flue.

  All boiler flues need to be checked for integrity

  again making sure the flue is discharging the products of combustion from the boiler directly to the outside and in a safe manner.

  Now with the older boilers, again they need to be checked over,

  Again SAFETY being the main reason.

  Over time seals need to be replaced and if left untouched the boiler could become unsafe.

  Gas Appliances Gas Fires

  Gas fires are another gas appliances that seems to always get overlooked.

  Again they need to be checked over for SAFETY.

  Depending on what type of gas fire you may have,

  Checks have to be carried out to make sure the products of combustion are being removed and not entering the room the fire is located in.

  Some fires vent the products up to a chimney and this may need to be cleaned due to build up over time of soot.

  Other fires remove the products via a fan again it’s all about SAFETY.

  I have even been told by a client that because they have a flueless fire it does not need to be checked. Untrue,

  Flueless fires must be checked without fail.

  Ventilation plays a big part for gas fires, so checking you still have the correct ventilation is very important.

  Sometimes these vents get covered over or blocked off without realizing they are there for a reason.

  Cooking appliances

  Cooking appliances again should be checked to make sure they are safe to use.

  Oven door seals need to be checked to make sure they have not perished.

  Freestanding cookers must have a stability chain or bracket fitted to stop them falling over if pulled on, normally by a child.

  So how safe are your gas appliances?

  One last thing, If after reading this article you are going to arrange for someone to check your gas appliances,

  Remember to only use a Registered Gas Safe Company.

  You will be able to find someone local to you by visiting the Gas Safe Register Website,

  It very simple to use and you should find three local registered companies who can carry out the inspection for you.

  Don’t use joe blogs from down the pub, use GAS SAFE and be SAFE