10 QUICK TIPS TO GET YOUR HEATING SYSTEM WINTER-READY
November 2021
With winter almost upon us, now is a good time, if you haven’t already, to make sure you’re all set up to stay cosy in the colder months ahead. We’ve compiled a few quick checks you can make to your heating system now to avoid the likelihood of any nasty surprises this winter.
1. Check the system is not still in summer mode
The first one is of course the most obvious. Check your boiler or heat pump is it set to run the heating system as well as the hot water. The heating will have been switched off for summer use, providing energy to heat the hot water only, so make sure the timer and thermostat are set correctly.
2. Check the boiler pressure
If using a combi boiler or pressurised system, low water pressure can be a very common issue, so it’s a good idea to check the pressure hasn’t dropped. It should always be between 1 and 1.5 bars. If it’s dropped below this then top it up. Refer to the manufacturers manual for instructions or contact a plumbing professional if needed.
3. Check the carbon monoxide sensor
If using a gas boiler, it’s always good practice to check the carbon monoxide sensor in the building is working by pressing the test button. If it’s not working, replace the battery. Most carbon monoxide sensors have a fixed lifespan with a date indicating when they need replacing so make sure it hasn’t not gone past this date.
4. Ensure your heat pump airflow isn’t blocked
If using a heat pump, just like a boiler, it should be professionally serviced annually. It’s worthwhile scheduling this just before winter to ensure it’s running effectively and efficiently when it’s needed most.
It’s important for an air source heat pump never to cover it over and to regularly clear away any debris like leaves or snow, as this can block the airflow, affecting the efficiency of the heat pump. The defrost mode will help to keep the heat pump from freezing in the very cold months.
5. Check the water treatment
If using a vented system and particularly if steel panel radiators are fitted, corrosion inhibitor should always be added to the heating system to prevent sludge build-up limescale and rust. This should be added annually to maintain protection.
6. Check the stop cocks
Stop cocks can seize up when they’re not used, so it’s worth checking they’re working properly by fully closing and opening the valve. It’s a good idea to leave the valve slightly closed to help prevent it from seizing up in future.
7. Check your heating controls
Make sure all the controls are set appropriately for the colder months. Some controls allow you to set different temperatures for different periods of the day in different areas of the buildings. It’s worth setting the thermostat to a low heat for the unoccupied spaces rather than being completely off.
8. Check if your radiators are warm from top to bottom
If the radiators have cold spots or are cold at the top, they’ll need bleeding or venting.
Bleeding: Traditional steel panel radiators need to be bled using a radiator bleed key. Make sure heating is off first, radiators are cold, and you are armed with an old cloth to catch the escaping water. If bleeding more than one radiator, always start with the one furthest away from the boiler or heat pump.
Maintaining a Low-H20 radiator is slightly different. If your Low-H2O radiator is cold, the radiator needs venting rather than bleeding. Here’s how…
Venting: Turn off the heating system and, using a flat head screwdriver, slightly open the air vent until water is noted. The air vent is situated at high level on the same side as the valve, and if venting a Strada radiator, you should be able to access it through the top grille without removing the casing. It is important to ensure that there is sufficient water in the system. Take care to protect decorated surfaces with a cloth prior to opening the air vent. Gently close the vent and switch the system back on.
If the radiators need venting frequently, there may be a fault with the system and a heating engineer should be called. For more detail on how to vent a low water content radiator, see https://jaga.co.uk/blog/venting-vs-bleeding-a-radiator-whats-the-difference
9. Check the TRVs
Another obvious one, but Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) will often have been turned to off on all radiators during the summer months. So, check they have all been set to the required temperature to ensure occupied rooms are cosy. In unoccupied rooms, it’s best to keep TRVs open at a lower level constantly rather than completely off.
10. Ensure radiators are clean
All radiator surfaces should be dusted and wiped down now and again to ensure they’re giving out as much heat as they should be. For low water content radiators (Low-H2O), the heating element inside should also be checked. During operation, the convector heating element filters dust and coarse particles from the air. It is important for the efficiency of the convector that the airways are kept clear at all times if possible, it’s a good idea to check that nothing is blocking or obstructing the top fins (for example; paper, food or other foreign bodies). Also, check that there is no build-up of dust on the underside of the element. If there is, you can easily use a vacuum cleaner to the underside without removing the casing.
GET IN TOUCH
If you have any Jaga products and need advice on their maintenance, please refer to the user manual in the first instance. Alternatively, contact our team who will put you in touch with our technical experts.
