"It may seem like a strange time to be thinking about your heating, but a winter-proofed boiler is made in the summer."
Ranjen Gohri, of Home Rescue
IT may be the last thing on your mind this summer. But while you’re thinking beaches, you should really be thinking boilers.
Because if you have an older boiler, now is the time to power-flush it.
Power-flushing is the ultimate detox for a boiler to ensure it’s winter proofed well in advance. And there’s no better time to do this than when your heating is off.
The process is designed to remove deposits of sludge, rust and other debris from your central heating system.
If these contaminants are left they can seriously affect the efficiency of your central heating system.
However, a thorough power-flush should have your boiler in good working order ahead of the unpredictable winter months.
Ranjen Gohri, of boiler breakdown cover company 24|7 Home Rescue, said: “It may seem like a strange time to be thinking about your heating, but a winter-proofed boiler is made in the summer.
“Giving it a little bit of tender loving care to your boiler when it’s warm outside can save you both hassle and money when the mercury drops.”
According to boiler boffins, at some stage in their life all central heating systems will need a power-flush.
It can be a costly concern if unwanted debris builds up in your pipes and radiators, slowing down your boiler’s performance and stopping heat from flowing evenly throughout the home.
Mr Gohri continued: “Signs your boiler is in need of a purge include failing to heat radiators and corrosion on pipework.
“Rusty looking water from the radiators and sluggish warm-up times are other indicators.
“You may also notice your tap water is cloudy, this is down to the limescale forming inside the pipework.”
Power-flush prices can range from £300 to £800, still a considerably lower amount than a brand new boiler. And having one could add years to your boiler lifespan.
If you are in need of a new boiler, the good news is there are smart ways to prevent it demanding a power-flush in the future.
A great way to save money and stay ahead of the game is by avoiding sludge and blockages in the first place.
Mr Gohri added: "You can easily avoid a power flush from happening by installing a magnetic filter into your central heating system.
"Also known as magnifilters, they are devices that collect iron and sludge which circulate in your heating system.
"The magnet attracts the iron oxide and stops it from contaminating the system which prevents damage to the boiler.
"If you're having a new boiler installed, the engineer may recommend fitting a magnifilter to prevent future complications.
Mr Gohri says is it sometimes possible to install a magnifilter to an existing system, but not always. This is because they can be quite bulky and need to be placed closed to the boiler.
He adds: “Your boiler should be serviced every year as an absolute minimum, to make sure everything is working well. If the boiler has to work harder that makes it less efficient, and ultimately ends up costing you more.
“Always remember that any work carried out on a boiler should be done so by a registered Gas Safe engineer.”
