With most boilers taking a back seat over summer, you should be reminding your customers that now is the time to prepare for the cold season. If a boiler has been left off over summer, it is possible that switching it back on could come with faults. If you want to bring your customers a service that goes above and beyond, this guide should certainly do the trick!
Booking a boiler service
Now is the time to contact your clients to let them know now is the time to be booking a boiler service. These should only ever be performed by a Gas Safe registered boiler engineer. Now is the best time to be booking these in as it will highlight any issues that have occurred over summer. As the life of an engineer gets busy over the winter months, having customers book in sooner rather than later can make the process easier for everyone.
Gradually switching the boiler back on
If you read our summer customer boiler care guide, your customers should have already been firing it back up regularly to help prevent the build-up of dust, corrosion and more. This will make it easier to address issues before switching it back on permanently. If your customers haven’t been doing this, it’s worth suggesting they do so a couple of times over the upcoming weeks.
Bleeding radiators
It’s easy to spot a radiator that doesn’t work well from being turned off over the summer. If your customers find that one or more of their radiators aren’t heating up in certain areas, or even at all, you may want to advise that they bleed them to remove any trapped air.
It is also worth reminding them that thermostatic radiator valves can get stuck if left closed for too long. This will make them unable to work when the time comes to turn the heating back on. If they haven’t opened them during the summer months, they may want to do this from now on to avoid any problems later on.
Turning the heat up too fast
Your customers may be tempted to reach for the heating as soon as they feel the cold. However, we both know very well that this could risk the temperature being set higher than is necessary. This is a waste of energy and money, so we suggest telling them to turn the heating up one degree at a time. Finally, remind them that turning the heating up higher won’t speed up the process of warming the home. It will only reach a higher temperature than is necessary.
Check for Faults
Summertime is usually when problems will occur with most boilers. Here are some things your customers should check for when switching their boilers back on.
Kettling
If a heating system sounds like a kettle when switched on, this could be due to a build-up of limescale or sludge on the boiler’s heat exchanger. This is also known as kittling and can restrict the water flow within the heat exchanger. This will then cause it to overheat, steam and boil.
Pilot light going out
If your customers are going to reignite the pilot light, it’s important that they check on their gas supply first. A broken thermocouple or a draught blowing out the pilot light could be preventing the gas supply.
Old boilers
If your customer’s boiler has been in use for a number of years, you may want to suggest to them that it’s time for a change. With most boilers having a 10-year lifespan, they can become less efficient over time. A new boiler may be just what they need to stay toasty and warm over winter.
Increase Low Boiler Pressure
We know that boilers lose pressure over time, something which is required for them to work effectively. Let your customers know that if their pressure gauge is less than 1 bar, there could be an issue and therefore must be addressed as soon as possible. There are several reasons behind low boiler pressure, such as a leak in the system or the pressure relief valve needing to be replaced. If it’s the former, this is when they need to contact you. If there is no leak, however, it’s all a matter of repressurising.
Remove Clutter
If your customer’s boiler is in a cupboard, you may need to remind them to keep the space clear of anything that may have been put away during summer. Boilers require ventilation and it will make your job easier if there is nothing in the way.
Provide the best service with the training from ECTA
Of course, providing customers with this advice is nothing if you don’t have the qualifications to do the job. This is why it’s a perfect time to ensure your training and knowledge is up to date. With a range of courses from ECTA, you can relax knowing that you can offer the best service. If you would like to learn more about the courses we have to offer, get in touch.