Traditionally lighter nights and warmer days means it’s time to turn the heating off in a bid to save a bit of cash before the heating bill skyrockets again come the first orange leaves of autumn. And why not? From April there’s no need to wake up wrapped in a duvet with the radiator on, summer soirees are spent around a patio heater, not a log burner. But, maybe it’s time to reconsider.
Whilst there’s the odd record breaking scorcher of a day in the summer months, there are still some days when there is a nip in the air. And whilst cosy loungewear is de rigour, there’s nothing worse than sitting in your home freezing, and it’s certainly not good for your long-term health. And it might not be very good for a healthy bank balance either.
Because most boilers and heating systems are switched off for nearly half the year, when they are turned back on, there’s often a problem. The most common date boilers decide not to play ball is December 1st – perhaps one of the most inconvenient times of year. So, what’s the solution?
Turn your heating on for short intervals
Turning your boiler on intermittently throughout the summer months will help keep it ticking over and will help you save on any expensive last minute repair jobs in the dead of winter. Ideally you should turn your heating on for 10 to 15 minutes every week. Investing in a smart home heating system from City Plumbing will help.
Keep hot water switched on
Keep your hot water on, but on a low setting over the summer and it will help keep your boiler in good condition – especially if it’s an older model.
Book a boiler service
The summer is a great time to book in a boiler service. Gas engineers and plumbers tend to be less busy, and if there is a fault, you can get it fixed whilst it’s still warm enough to not need the heating on to stay warm.
The upshot? Keeping your heating on over the summer months, especially if kept on a low temperature, and used intermittently won’t cause any major increases to your heating bills. But it may just save you having to fork out for hefty repair bills and replacement parts come the cold winter months.
For these and other reasons, you have to service your boiler regularly for it to function efficiently.