Gas Boilers

A condensing boiler is a high efficiency boiler which runs at a lower temperature than older, traditional style boilers. It recovers energy through, what is termed, ‘Latent Heat’. When the burned fuel products cool they turn into a liquid and create condensation. 

A Combi boiler provides both heating and hot water instantly. 

A system boiler is designed to work with a cylinder to provide hot water as it does not have the hot water heat exchanger. It contains an expansion vessel and pump allowing the boiler to be installed in a sealed system. 

A Heat only boiler is the simplest type of boiler. It can be used on either an open vented system, which has a tank in the loft, or in a sealed system with the addition of an external pump and expansion vessel. Hot water is provided by using a cylinder.

The general lifespan of a boiler is between 10 to 15 years.

While this is an average, your boiler may last longer if you take good care of it.

You should decide to replace your boiler when repairs become too expensive and start mounting up – or even if your boiler is beyond repair! You’ll then begin to save money in the long run.

If you have a boiler fault, it’s most likely a common problem with a simple fix. However it can be difficult to understand whether your boiler can be repaired or not when a more serious issue occurs.

The best option here is consult an expert at SwitchedOn.

We’ll be able to assess whether your boiler is safe to continue using after a fix, or whether it can be repaired at all.

Find out more information here from our blog: Is now the right time for a new boiler?

Getting your boiler serviced when there doesn’t appear to be any issue may seem unnecessary, but servicing your boiler once a year will help to prolong its lifespan.

An annual service helps to avoid unforeseen problems with your boiler, and keep it running efficiently. You’ll also continue to keep hold of your 10-year manufacturers warranty. 

If you’d like to find out more about annual boiler servicing, we have competitive, affordable rates available.

Book a service today!

If you need to find out how old your boiler is you can check within the installation manual; your installer will have completed the Benchmark Certificate.

If this is not available, the age of your boiler can be estimated by the type of boiler it is – give us a call to help figure this out.

If you’re feeling the cold in your home, it could be because you have air trapped in your radiator system. You can check your radiators by carefully touching them while they are on, to see if they are cold in places, particularly near the top, which will mean that they need bleeding. 

Here’s what you should do:

After switching the heating off and waiting for the system to cool, make sure you have a radiator vent key and towel at the ready. 

Use the radiator vent key by turning it anti-clockwise to open the valve, and make sure the towel is behind the radiator just in case it sprays hot water on you or onto the wall.

Once you’ve finished, turn the key clockwise to close the valve.

The next step is to check the pressure gauge on your system and make sure it is between 1-1.5 bar. If it’s not within this range, fill the boiler up with the filling loop, which is usually located under the boiler (if you have a heat or system boiler, it may be near your cylinder). If you struggle with this – give us a call!

If you have too much pressure in your system, you can reduce the pressure by opening the pressure valve slightly. This is important because it prevents the pressure relief valve blowing open due to an excess amount of built-up pressure.

If you’re buying a new boiler, or just trying to decide if you need one, how efficient it is will be a big part of your decision.

Remember – the more efficient your boiler, the less likely you’re to pay a high amount towards your heating bills.

To find boilers that are economical, look for their EPC-rating. A well rated boiler should run very efficiently, whereas a poorly rated model may be more costly when it comes to your monthly bills.

You should find that all modern boilers are more economical when compared to older models. All boilers we supply are ‘A’ rated!