With Christmas just around the corner it’s a good time to start thinking about boiler breakdown cover, with engineers becoming busier in the colder months it’s all the more important to have a boiler service contract on hand to ensure you and your family are covered in the event of an emergency boiler or central heating breakdown.

Boiler service contracts range in cover from just your boiler up to and including drains, plumbing, central heating pipes & radiators and also electrical care. British Gas HomeCare offer all of these via their boiler insurance product right up to British Gas HomeCare 400 which covers every aspect of  your homes utilities, what’s more until the 31st December they’re giving away 1 month free – it’s very rare for British Gas to provide discounts or vouchers on the HomeCare product so make sure you sign-up before the offer expires.

In today’s modern world, we are often reminded about our impact on the environment with not just green charities and seemingly faddish green energy devices being thrust into our lives, but also the Government passing new laws and rules on how we consume energy in our homes. But, apart from the environmental benefits, why should you or I strive for higher energy efficiency – what are our bonuses for an often expensive choice?

The answer is in energy efficiency – the more efficient our boiler system is in our home, the cheaper our energy bills become, and with the steady rise in gas, oil and electricity prices we are all experiencing, investing in a boiler that is more efficient is the answer.

But what is a high efficiency condensing boiler – and how do they work?

The Basics

The condensing process that occurs on high efficiency condensing boilers are what gives them their name. Condensing occurs in the most efficient types of boilers, inside using a larger or a secondary heat exchanger – this means that more of the energy that is created by the boiler is extracted to the exchanger to heat the water while the boiler is in use, and reduces the amount of energy that is wasted. Normally, this heat would escape up the flue of an average boiler, but in a high efficiency condensing boiler the heat of the flue area is lower, reducing the temperature of the flue gases and producing condensate.

When it comes to energy efficiency, a high efficiency condensing boiler is the most efficient type of boiler available on the market today, converting more than 86% of all the fuel consumed into heat. Most conventional boilers only manage around 78%, with older boilers and back boilers managing even less.
High efficiency condensing boilers are not just efficient with their energy, but also in the amount of materials used in their construction, and ultimately, their size. Depending on the work-load of the boiler needed, the size will vary, but many will fit snugly into a standard kitchen cupboard space. This can be much smaller than many other boilers on the market, especially when you factor in the energy efficiency – a less efficient boiler may need to be larger to create the same output as a high efficiency condensing boiler.

Types of High Efficiency Condensing Boilers

There are three main different types of high efficiency condensing boilers on the market today, these include:

Regular Boilers – A heat only or regular boiler provides hot water straight to your radiators. The system needs a storage cylinder for supplying hot water to taps and showers.
System Boilers – Requiring a separate hot water cylinder for storing heated hot water, but not requiring a roof tank like some types of boiler.
And
Combi Boilers – Requiring no tank, a combination boiler will heat up hot water on demand and circulate it where required. These are the most popular type of modern boiler, as they take up considerably less space.

What are the Negatives of a High Efficiency Condensing Boiler?

A high efficiency condensing boiler will suffer from an effect called ‘pluming’, which occurs in all types of condensing boilers. Pluming is a side effect of the condensing method, and looks like steam or gas escaping from the boiler and is much more noticeable in colder weather as it has an average temperature of 54°C. This plume of wet steam vapour will condense on a cold surface into small droplets of water, similar to when breathing on a window, and for this reason it is advised that all high efficiency condensing boilers are situated away from windows or cooler surfaces, as well as walls or internal corners where the damp may be trapped.

When it comes to the boiler in your home it has to be serviced to keep it functioning properly. This means you have to know when to have the boiler serviced and how often to prevent problems before they occur.

The servicing process

Knowing what is involved in servicing will help to make the determination of whether or not it is time to service the boiler in your home. There is more to servicing than just fixing the problems that are being experienced with the boiler and the replacement of parts especially so with new style high efficiency condensing boilers. A visual inspection is normally performed during the servicing of the boiler.

The visual inspection will check both the internal and external aspects of the boiler to ensure there is no visible damage to the unit. Should visible damage be found to any part of the unit then that item will be fixed or replaced depending on where and what it is.

The dangers of not having your boiler serviced

In reality it is up to you just how often you want your boiler inspected for safety. It is suggested that it be done at the same time each year and when the boiler begins to age this becomes even more important, the service can be carried out as part of an boiler service contract or as a one off service. An annual service is a must if your heating system contains an open flue. These can contribute to death from carbon monoxide making it vital to ensure they remain safe.

Things to check regularly

There are some things that you should keep track of regularly in order to get an idea of when your boiler should be serviced. For example, when the water level in the boiler falls to levels that are not adequate for normal functioning or if the low water cut off does not work properly when it is tested you should get the boiler serviced. Also, if the temperature and pressure that the boiler normally operates under suddenly drops or undergoes any other type of drastic change you should have the boiler serviced. The same applies if something out of the ordinary happens to the temperature of the feed water or condensate. A change in pressure for the feed water can also indicate a need for servicing.

There are various other signs to look for as well ,however, the manufacturer’s handbook will often list these in much greater detail

Conclusion

When a decrease in the efficiency of the boiler is noticed it probably means it needs cleaning and servicing. This should be performed as soon as the first signs are noted as you want to keep the boiler as efficient as possible and also as safe as possible. Most manufacturers recommend an annual service and in some cases the boiler’s warranty depends on the service being carried out. A service may seem like an expensive process, however, it is much cheaper than replacing an irreparable boiler.

The current global recession has meant that the majority of people have had to try to find ways to cut spending, tighten their belts and carefully budget to manage money. During this time of financial hardship, it can be very tempting to cut costs that are not seen as priority or urgent. For example, many people may consider delaying or postponing their annual gas boiler check, in a bid to save money. However, making such a decision could end up costing you more money in additional boiler repairs, not to mention, put you and your family’s health and safety at risk.

Your annual gas boiler check ensures that your boiler is running efficiently and safety. Although modern gas boilers are generally reliable and considered safe, there is always the possibility of a leak – and we are all well aware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Further more, having a Gas Safe registered reliable tradesman check and perform your annual gas boiler maintenance, will ensure that any components that are dirty, or any deposits that have built up, can be cleaned. Also, the engineer will be able to check pressure and general running of your boiler, all of which will make your boiler run more efficiently, thus saving you money on your annual gas bill.

Annual gas boiler checks may not be cheap – costing from £50 upwards. So, consider taking out a boiler maintenance insurance policy. Many policies will allow you to pay a monthly fee and include regular check ups. Having a boiler insurance policy will also give you piece of mind, knowing that the engineer sent to check your boiler is correctly qualified and attended an accredited gas training course.

British Gas Priority Response is designed for those customers wanting peace of mind that should their hot water or central heating fail that an engineer is guaranteed to visit the very next day (at the latest), on top of this any repair carried out is charged at a flat fee of £99 (including parts & labour) reagrdless of the size of repair.

But hurry, the £99 flat fee is only valid until 7th November, after that it goes up to £160 for London & £130 for the rest of the country.

You can find more  at Priority Response or call 0845 074 4035.

Avoiding Co2 Poisoning

Carbon dioxide, or Co2, is an often-overlooked killer. Although the air always contains an amount of Co2 that we breathe in and out every day, and is perfectly harmless in normal conditions, a build up of Co2 in the air will cause humans and animals to absorb less oxygen into their bloodstream through the walls of the lungs, instead increasing the levels of Co2 in the bloodstream in its place and slowly starve the body of oxygen, leading to brain damage and even death. Co2 is not harmful in itself, it is just the over accumulation of it will take up space for oxygen in the air – usually in air there is around 21% Co2, much less outside or in greener areas, but anything significantly more than that is dangerous. Co2 is both colourless and odourless and is classed as a ‘greenhouse gas’, and the increase of it is debated to be one of the main causes of global warming.
Babies are the most susceptible to Co2 poisoning due to their delicacy and the habit of parents to wrap up babies in many layers of clothing and blankets as they sleep, especially in areas that may have lower than usual ventilation. Co2 has been argued by many to be one of the causes of ‘SIDS’ – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Boilers and Central Heating Systems and Co2

Boilers that create Co2, such as a gas boilers, are all fitted with a special flue that directs the gas up and out of the home without it leaking into the air of the household. It is rare, but sometimes these flues can become damaged and cause Co2 to seep out into the household, and cause a higher ratio of Co2 in the air, which could be dangerous. To prevent this, it is strongly advised that you service your boiler thoroughly by a qualified CORGI trained engineer once a year, who will check for any leaks or damage to your boiler system.

Methods of Prevention

Keeping your home well-ventilated is key to preventing a build-up of Co2. Air conditioning systems in offices and homes are usually effective at only transporting the same air round an area without replenishing oxygen, so it is wise to keep windows open with a fan circulating air in small rooms containing babies, the elderly or small children if you are worried about Co2 build-up. Adults and the more active are less likely to be affected by Co2, but never keep all windows and doors closed in the home, or enter poorly ventilated areas for too long or without someone keeping an eye on you. Co2 poisoning is quick and undetectable, and can cause damage in only a breath or two, with people often slipping into unconsciousness without even realising. Sensors that detect Co2 are costly, and not essential like a carbon monoxide detector.
Appliances in the home can create extra Co2 in the atmosphere, so making sure that they are all serviced and functioning correctly is essential, and therefore not creating any extra unnecessary Co2.

So What Is British Gas Boiler Homecare?

Having a new boiler or central heating system installed undoubtedly adds value to your home and can help with saving money on energy bills; but these can prove costly despite the longevity they can bring to any system. So the British Gas Boiler Homecare Plan aims to provide a maintenance package that prioritises the improvements of these facilities as and when required, which can be useful when the guarantee or warranty of a new product expires.

For a monthly subscription, customers can opt for one of four different packages, each one marked by a different level that has a range of benefits. Level 100 (originally 1 star) provides an insurance against a broken boiler and ensures that the customer will receive an immediate repair from a qualified (CORGI) registered engineer – the cost of their labour and any parts are covered in the monthly fee.

The hassle of searching for a reliable and local engineer is replaced with a single helpline number for customers and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week which can be much more appealing to those more vulnerable customers such as elderly people who might struggle to find a reliable engineer, or for a landlord who is absent from the property when problems occur but needs to ensure that repairs and services have been exacted professionally and legally.

Levels 200, 300 and 400 (originally 2, 3 and 4 star) are variants on this package including the boiler but also giving insurance against leaking radiators or broken fuse boxes – each one worth a slightly higher monthly fee but with a larger guarantee in what the package covers.

Despite the deregulation of the gas and electricity markets in the late 1990s, British Gas remains a popular provider of both fuels in the United Kingdom, with 11 million gas customers and 5 million electricity customers. British Gas Services – formed in 1994 to specialise in the installation and servicing side of the business – is likewise the leading installer of domestic gas central heating systems in the United Kingdom.

British Gas offers a range of standard and online payment tariffs, together with a number of boiler and central heating system service plans, all of which are backed by call centres that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and a nationwide team of more than 5,000 academy-trained engineers.

The “Click Energy 5″ online tariff, for example, offers substantial savings to “dual fuel” customers – in other words, customers who are supplied with gas and electricity – when compared to traditional offline cash or cheque payments, with the additional benefits of paperless billing, and no cancellation charges.

Similarly, the British Gas “Homecare” programme provides various levels of service cover – from a boiler and its controls, to a complete central heating system, plumbing and drains – for a graduated fixed fee which includes parts and labour. This service is, however, completely independent of gas or electricity supply so that if you should wish to move away from British Gas as an energy supplier at any time your cover is not affected.

Our friends over at the Boiler Service Centre have updated their site to include a new section dedicated to boiler breakdown cover and central heating insurance, this will be a popular section with more and more providers to choose from it’s difficult to know which to go for.

They’re currently looking for boiler servicing companies to feature so don’t delay and get in touch to make the most of their FREE beta program!