The unpredictable weather in the UK could be disastrous for your home.
Britain’s weather has been wildly unpredictable over recent months. From scorching heatwaves to battering hailstorms, forecasting what’s around the corner has been a near-impossible task. According to experts, this volatile weather is placing boilers under considerable strain, creating the perfect conditions for faults to develop.
Heating and cooling specialists BOXT warn that the erratic May weather is piling extra pressure on home heating systems up and down the country. Repeatedly switching the heating on and off takes its toll on boilers — and many homeowners won’t notice until it’s too late, reports the Express.
Adam Knight, lead Gas Safe engineer at BOXT, said: “A lot of people assume boilers only come under pressure in winter, but these stop-start weather patterns can actually be just as tough on heating systems.
“We’re seeing households flick the heating on for an hour in the morning, turn it off during warmer afternoons, then fire it back up again when temperatures drop.
“Add in wet washing draped over radiators and boilers are suddenly working much harder than people realise.
“The problem is that many faults stay hidden and can build up through spring and summer, only becoming obvious when the heating is needed every day in winter.
“That’s when we tend to see the consequences of pressure issues, trapped air or sludge build-up that’s been developing unnoticed for months.”
There are several telltale warning signs to watch out for that could indicate your boiler is struggling.
Boiler warning signs include:
- Radiators taking longer to heat up
- Uneven heat around the house
- Gurgling, banging or whistling noises
- Boiler pressure dropping repeatedly
- Heating switching itself off unexpectedly
- Hot water temperatures fluctuating
Should you spot any of these warning signs, it’s crucial to arrange an inspection with the professionals as soon as possible. Getting your boiler serviced now will more often than not prove far less costly than waiting for the winter rush, when everybody switches their heating back on and discovers they need assistance.
