Guest post from Tom Key

The cost of dealing with faulty heating system or a leaking plumbing setup can be hefty, so it certainly pays to be vigilant and keep an eye on how your property is working.

If you think something is not working as it should be then it pays to deal with it as soon as possible, as letting small problems escalate into larger issues doesn’t help anybody.

Leaky radiator

If you follow our top 5 tips you will be going a long way to minimising the risk of being affected by plumbing and heating problems.

Here are our top 5 tips on things to do to help check that your plumbing and heating system is working as expected:

1       Constant monitoring

If something was to go wrong with your properties plumbing pipework then you can bet that a supply of water will find it. The best thing to do is to be mindful of this and keep an eye out for indications of wear and tear.

If you start seeing the accumulation of water droplets on a regular basis or the spreading of small marks and stains then it could be worth investigating further and getting an experienced plumber or engineer in.  Nipping a potential problem like this in the bud can be very beneficial in the long term.
2       Check the Water pressure
The water pressure in your home should be at a fairly high level. If you notice that the water coming from your taps or showers is less powerful than normal then you may well have a leak or other plumbing problem. If concerned consult your Stopcocks plumber.

Alternatively a drop in water pressure may occur due to a problem with the water supply in the area. In this case contact your water supplier and discuss your concerns.

Monitoring the water pressure is just another great method to look for warning signs that something is not right with your plumbing and heating.

3       Maintain the Efficiency of your central heating and radiators

As a general rule, most plumbers and heating engineers suggest that it is a wise move to check that your radiators are working as expected every year, ideally before the autumn and winter seasons when you need to start relying on your central heating.

One good check is to turn your heating on and see if you can feel any patches of cold on your radiator panels. If you can feel areas of cold on your radiator panels then it could well be that there is cold air trapped within your radiator. This is easily dealt with – you simply need to use a radiator key or screwdriver to turn the radiator valve.

As soon as water spurts out tighten the valve as your radiator is now filled up with water instead of air. You should do this to all of your radiators as it will ensure they are working at optimum performance.

Remember if you have a combi boiler, bleeding the radiators will cause the pressure in your boiler to go down; this will need topping up. If you still have concerns over your central heating, we recommend you don’t tackle this yourself – ask your Stopcocks engineer or plumber for their view on what the problem could be.

It may be that you have to replace older radiator models with some modern high efficiency alternatives. This isn’t the end of the world as there is a wide variety of cheap radiators available that tend to last for a great number of years, offering a high heating performance in the process, so it is unlikely that you will have to replace them for a while.

4       Service your boiler regularly
Oil and gas boiler systems should be serviced on a yearly basis to make sure they are working safely and efficiently. This will make sure that your central heating system is working with you to give you the best value for money performance possible.

5       Deal with leaks and drips
Nothing is more annoying than the sound of a dripping tap. What’s worse is that over 27,000 litres of water can be lost by that one dripping tap alone – so that sounds signifies the sounds of your money going down the plug hole!

Tightening up your bathroom and kitchen tap valves or replacing old washers can stop this from occurring. If you have an older shower and it is still leaking water then it may be the opportunity to invest in one of the many cheap showers now available. With mixer showers, power showers and thermostatic showers all available (as well as many more), you won’t be stuck for choice.

Improving the efficiency of your bathroom and kitchen can save you money and also prevent the build-up of surface water than can lead to damp and other water damage.

Preventative measures will take very little time out of your weekly activities but you will be glad you took the time to do them if it means avoiding costly plumbing & heating maintenance and repairs.

About the author: Tom Key is the Marketing Coordinator for Direct Heating Supplies.