Summer's (nearly) here - time to think about your boiler!

We may now be approaching the first throes of the summer months, but, surprisingly, now is the time to start thinking about your boiler.

The severe winter that hit the UK saw people keeping their heating on significantly longer, especially if they were at home most of the day. Of course, it’s your poor old boiler that has to take the strain. Many of us tend not to think about the boiler from one month to the next. It’s just there and as long as it does its job, we’re happy.

But what if it broke down? It’s not so bad in the summer, but how about during the colder months?

Just like a car or anything else we value, it’s worthwhile having a boiler serviced regularly. Most manufacturers will recommend a service at least once a year. It becomes more important as the boiler gets older and if it has an open flue (one that goes up vertically through a chimney). This is because these types of ‘open flue’ boilers are responsible for most deaths caused by carbon monoxide. Making sure your boiler is regularly serviced will ensure your family doesn’t face this danger.

Some top tips for finding a trustworthy installer

The last thing you want is for someone to come into your house and leave after a few minutes of tinkering with the boiler, leaving you with a big bill and the suspicion whether the boiler has really been looked at properly or not. So, what should a good boiler service consist of?

A good service company will check the boiler’s operation, in accordance with manufacturer instructions, clean it, test it and look at any faults that could crop up in the future.

This boiler service checklist will help you ensure you are getting a proper boiler service for your money, one that will ensure safe and efficient operation.

• Boiler flue output should be analysed

• Pipework should be inspected – this should include a ventilation and clearance check

• All boiler components should be tested and their correct function ensured

• All key components should be inspected and cleaned, if required.

• Any boiler components that are faulty or nearing end of life should be disclosed to the owner and replaced ASAP.

If your service engineer can satisfy this checklist, most problems should be detected earlier on and fixed without causing unnecessary problems.

Think twice if you see someone advertising something like an annual safety check, interim boiler service or quick boiler service. It might sound like the real deal, but it may not cover all the safety and cleaning tasks that a full boiler service should entail.

Sutton and East Surrey Water Services offers a scheme that looks after your boiler. As well as an annual service of your boiler and a system safety check, our scheme covers radiators and repairs to pipework, your hot water cylinder and feed and expansion tank.

For more details, visit our heating services page and give your boiler a break!

Look out for our House of Horrors ads!

Ever wondered whether the things that go bump in the night could be a sign of an impending household disaster?

Whether it's a leaking pipe, a boiler on its last legs or a broken roof tile, the last thing you need is to be caught unawares by a problem that could potentially mean forking out hundreds of pounds to fix. Yet despite this, many people choose to ignore the warning signs and put off buying protection, thinking they're saving money.

In fact, when the inevitable does happen, they could find themselves actually forking out hundreds of pounds, not just on the cost of reapirs, but also replacing damaged possessions.

This was the inspiration behind our new 'House of Horrors' ad campaign, which you may already have seen running in the local Post and Guardian newspapers. If you haven't seen them yet, here's one of them (you can see the complete series in the slideshow in the right hand panel of this site).

With their dark and moody look, the ads explore the full horror of an unexpected plumbing, drainage, heating or household emergency, which often could be avoided by spending just a few pence per day.

So don't let your home because a House of Horrors. Why not call Sutton & East Surrey Water Services today on 0800 316 6858 or email plumbingservices@waterplc.com to see just how little it costs to get yourself protected against the things that go bump in the night.

Let the sun cut your energy bill while you save the planet

Everywhere you turn at the moment, there is a message about renewable energy and how we can all do our bit for the environment, and our pockets, by making more use of it.

One of the most popular renewable or alternative energy sources is solar power. Unlike coal and oil, the sun is not expected to exhaust its power for centuries to come.

Investing in solar power is a good way to cut your personal ‘carbon footprint’ while cutting your energy bill and, with solar energy systems becoming cheaper all the time, it makes more and more sense to consider.

But don’t you need lots of sun to make solar power work properly? The answer is no, because it’s the amount of daylight that determines how much power is generated by a solar panel. In hot countries with cloudless skies and long days, it can provide a huge amount of energy but even in cloudy Britain, it can help provide plenty of hot water in our homes.

If the temperature of a solar panel increases by 20°C, they can produce around 90% of the energy they would at room temperature. So on a clear but cold day in London, solar panels could produce more energy than on a hot and sunny day in Spain.

The power of daylight can be used in two ways – to produce electricity or to heat water. Solar power is the most popular form of renewable energy in use in homes in the UK. It’s not difficult to see why such a system can provide a home with around a third of the hot water it needs over a year. Just think of the massive savings that could produce!

With solar power getting cheaper, cutting your fuel bills, while helping protect the environment, it’s a winning proposition all round.

Find out how you could start saving with solar panels for hot water heating - click here.