QHS How to Guides Part Two: about Gas Boilers

A boiler uses gas flames to heat water. This hot water is then sent through pipes in your walls and floor to;

Your radiators to fill them up with hot water to make them warm to heat your house

and

Your kitchen and bathroom taps for you to wash with

Gas for the boiler is sent from a main supply outside of your house. If the gas supply stops, your boiler will not work.

Here are some different types of gas boiler you can have;

Combi boiler

Combi boilers heat only the hot water that you use. They provide hot water on demand without having to heat it up in a tank first.

You can have your combi boiler on a timer, so that it is only turned on during certain hours.

This will make your energy bills cheaper, as you are only using your boiler when you need it.

You can also have your comb boiler on constant, so it is always providing you with heat and hot water.

Conventional boiler

If you have a conventional boiler, you will also have a pump, a hot water cylinder and a cold water tank.

The conventional boiler sends hot water to your radiators for heating and heats up a coil inside the hot water cylinder.

Your hot water cylinder may have another coil inside, separate to the system and powered by electrics. This is called an immsersion. You can use this to provide hot water if your boiler is not working.

If you have a conventional boiler, you need to keep in mind that the hot water in the cylinder must be heated up before you use it.

Hot water will also run out if you use it all at once. This might happen if a lot of people in your house have showers or baths in a short space of time.

Combi or conventional condensing boiler

Both a combi boiler and a conventional boiler can have a condensing function. Condensing boilers are more efficient as they trap some of the heat that is normally sent outside in a pipe called the ‘flue’ and send it back to the boiler to be used again.

All new boilers installed after 2005 must be condensing as they are more energy efficient, saving you money that you might have to spend on extra gas.

It is important for an engineer to attend and carry out a gas safety check on your boiler every year.

During the visit, the engineer will make sure that the boiler is safe to use.

The engineer will also make sure that you have a working carbon monoxide alarm.

Failing to keep your gas safety check puts you and your family in danger. Faulty boilers can release carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas.

Be aware of the symptoms of a carbon monoxide leak;

These symptoms suggest a carbon monoxide leak

If you suspect a carbon monoxide leak, please call Transco urgently on 0800 111 999.

If a member of your family experiences breathlessness, collapse or loss of consciousness, call 999 for an ambulance.

QHS are always happy to help answer any queries you have regarding your boiler. Call us on 01494 795000 or email us on customer-services@quality-heating.co.uk.

According the the Gas Safety Register "Any gas appliance in your home can produce carbon monoxide (CO), a highly poisonous gas which occurs when natural gas or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) doesn’t burn as it should. This is the result of a gas appliance being improperly fitted, repaired or maintained, or when vents, flues or chimneys have become blocked - and that’s why it’s so important to have all of your gas appliances checked once a year by a Gas Safe registered engineer."

A gas boiler service should start with a visual check to ensure that the gas boiler and associated pipework is installed and positioned correctly. The gas engineer should then check that your boiler is operating correctly and identify any initial problems. They should remove the boiler casing to look at its components. They should check the boiler is working safely and efficiently, and clean any of the components inside the gas boiler that require cleaning. The engineer should ideally check the following:

• That there is a correct gas pressure and flow
• Ensure the condensate trap and pipe is not blocked
• Make sure the seals are intact
• Analyse the flue and combustion. A flue gas analyser should be used to make sure the boiler is burning the right mixture of gas and air and that the flue is not blocked
• Fans and other key components are all working efficiently
• The electrodes are in a good condition
• Water and gas pipework
• All electrical connections are clean and in good condition
• Safety devices are located and checked