I hate to state the obvious and I also hate to be the bearer of bad news but the brilliant summer we experienced this year is well and truly over. To quote HBO’s Game of Thrones, Winter is Coming!
This is the time of year we see tenants starting to turn the heating on as a jumper or dressing gown just doesn’t suffice as it perhaps does in the current Autumn weather.
As you can imagine, winter is the maintenance department’s busiest time of the year and we can be handling anywhere between 5 and 10 separate boiler issues a week. We obviously want to assist our tenants as quickly as possible and we aim to have heating or hot water issues completely rectified within a 48hour period where possible.
So, you go switch the heating on and oh no…there’s no heating available!! Don’t panic, here are some handy tips that may solve the issue straight away for you;
1. Boiler Pressure
One of the first thing’s we ask tenants about on the phone when they report they have no heating is “Have you checked the pressure?”. It is actually tenant responsibility to do this and it’s relatively easy to do with a little help from everyone’s go-to friend, Google. All you need to know is the make and model of the boiler which should be either on the front panel of the boiler or somewhere on the inside, once you have this just type that in to Google and it’ll no doubt suggest “make/model boiler pressure”. You should then be able to find a step by step guide or even better, a step by step YouTube video. (Warning: Having seen several of these sorts of videos, they can be pretty cheesy but persevere through, they’re usually only a couple of minutes long!). For reference, the pressure gauge needle should be between 1 and 2 for optimum performance.
2.Radiator bleeding
It sounds like something from a B-movie horror but this simple process could provide you with the heat you need and ensure the radiators stay hotter for longer. You can pick up a radiator key for as little as 50p from any supermarket or DIY shop. Once in possession of one, it’s as simple as locating the valve (usually found on the side of the radiator at the top), inserting the key and turning anticlockwise. You will then start to hear a hissing sound which signifies the excess air escaping the radiator. Ensure you have a towel or cloth to hand as water will begin to splutter from the radiator. When this splutter of water becomes a steady stream, you’ve successful bled the radiator and the valve can now be tightened by turning clockwise. Repeat this process for all radiators within the property.
3. Door & Window Seals
Take the time to check all the door and window seals in the property. Even a millimetre gap can have a detrimental effect on the temperature of a room and counterbalance having the heating on. If you notice a potential gap of any kind, place your hand over it in the first instance to see if you can feel a draught. If you’re not sure, try using “the match or candle test”. First, ensure you’ve moved anything flammable away from the window (curtains, blinds etc.) then move the candle or match near the window seals and keep an eye on the flame. If you notice the flame curves or moves, it usually indicates a gap in the window seal which needs to be looked at by one of our contractors.
If you attempt all of the above tips and discover that you still don’t have heating or feel the heat you do have is escaping, give us a call on 01522 503717 (Option 5) and one of the maintenance department will be on hand to either advise further or instruct one of our qualified Gas Safe engineers from our approved contractor’s list to arrange access with you.
Yours in effortless Property Management,
Robert Smith (MARLA)
October 17