We are definitely feeling the change in the weather this week. Winter coats have been hurriedly pulled out of our closets and even the office dog has been walking around in hoodies. There’s no doubt that winter is coming and we don’t know about you but at Finethorp, that means making sure our heating is ready to be switched on long term.
During the summer, most of us have our heating turned off and as with many things in this world, lack of use often leads to problems. The last thing we want is a major issue to rear it’s ugly head just as we’re wanting to dial the temperature up.
As specialist heating engineers you can call us to help with any heating issues you may have whether it be servicing a boiler or upgrading your central heating. And here are a few things we recommend you do to make sure your heating is ready for winter.
Bleed your radiators
First off you’re going to want to bleed your radiators. We know, we know, it sounds crazy but often little pockets of air can get into your central heating system and this causes your radiators to get cold patches where the air is blocking the hot water. In order to fix this you must ‘bleed’ the radiators periodically. This basically means you pull the unwanted air out of the system. To bleed the system you’re going to need what’s called a radiator key. You’ll probably find them in your local DIY store. All you have to do is place the key over the matching part on the side of the radiator. When you twist it you’ll be able to hear air being released from the system. As soon as the sound dies down twist the key back again. Repeat with each radiator. It’s that simple.
Get your boiler serviced
Everyone has heard this before but we’ll say it as many times as it takes, you must make sure you get your boiler serviced annually. It is essential to the upkeep and maintenance of the system and can help to prevent serious problems and even carbon monoxide leaks. Finethorp can service your boiler before you start using it regularly and get it working at optimum efficiency.
Insulate your pipes
Frozen pipes are one of the most common problems come winter but adding a little insulation to them should help to prevent them freezing. You’ll be able to buy some lagging material from your local DIY store which slips right over the pipes and keeps them nice and warm. No more cracked pipes come winter time!
book in a Powerflush
Over time your central heating system can become clogged with bits of debris and rust which can make your radiators inefficient. You may notice things like cold patches on your radiators or the heating taking a long time to warm up. Book in a powerflush with Finethorp and we’ll clean the whole system for you. All the rust and debris will be flushed away and you’ll be nice and cosy in your home in no time.
Install a Honeywell evohome
All of us at Finethorp are massive proponents of Honeywell evohome. We have worked with every brand of smart thermometer but none of them live up to Honeywell evohome for us. The capabilities are incredible and they give you fantastic control over the heating settings within your home. When better to consider installing one than the run up to winter time when you’ll really be putting it through it’s paces. Give us a call if you’re interested in one and we can talk to you about the system and what it can do in your home.
Follow these little steps and we promise that you’ll be toasty and warm all winter long.
Contact Finethorp for all your central heating and smart heating system needs.