The Importance of Looking After Your Central Heating in Summer
We might be enjoying a scorching summer in Plymouth and across the South West, so it’s natural to assume central heating is probably the last thing on people’s minds.
This is a big mistake!
The thing is:
Summer is as good a time as any to look after your Central Heating System and make sure it’s in peak condition come the cold weather.
In a nutshell:
Think and act now – avoid regrets and costly breakdowns later.
The best part? With our central heating maintenance tips, you can get a head start this summer!
Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
1. Get Your Boiler Serviced
The boiler is the beating heart of your central heating system. And the best way to make sure it stays healthy is with regular Boiler Service.
You’re probably wondering:
How often should a central heating system be serviced?
Your boiler (and your central heating system in general) should generally be serviced once a year. Annual servicing helps keep your heating system running safely, efficiently, and reliably, while also identifying small issues before they become costly repairs.
The ideal time is late summer or early autumn, before the colder weather arrives. This gives you time to address any issues before you rely on your heating system every day.
What’s more:
Summer is generally a quieter time for heating engineers. So, they have greater availability and more time to devote full attention to your central heating system.
Check our blog on the Advantages of an Annual Boiler Service to find out more.
2. Bleed Your Radiators
As with boiler servicing, radiator bleeding should be done once a year. Once again, late summer is usually the best time to perform this task, though you can also do it in early autumn.
This is one of the most underrated central heating maintenance tips. Here’s why you should overlook it:
Air pockets occasionally build up inside your radiators, which prevents hot water from circulating properly. This, in turn, leaves parts of the radiator cool, which forces your heating system has to work harder to achieve the same comfort level. As a result, you end up paying more.
The good news is that bleeding your radiators is something you can do all by yourself – and at virtually no cost.
All you need is:
- A radiator key – a small tool available from DIY stores, which costs between £1 and £4.
- An old cloth or rag – to catch drips and protect flooring.
- A small bowl or container – for any escaping water.
- Protective gloves – to keep your hands safe from hot surfaces.
Once you have these four simple items, you’re good to go.
Not sure how to go about the process? Check our step-by-step guide on How to Bleed Your Radiators.
3. Power Flush Your Central Heating
When it comes to summer central heating maintenance tips, one of the best ways to prepare for winter early is with a power flush of your central heating system from your local heating engineers. This will improve the efficiency of your central heating system and extend its lifespan.
At this point, you might be thinking:
Can I flush my central heating system myself?
Unlike radiator bleeding, a power flush is not really a DIY job because it requires specialist equipment to pump water and cleaning chemicals through the system at high flow rates in order to dislodge stubborn sludge and blockages. The heating engineer will often clean each radiator individually and may reverse the flow to remove more debris.
This might sound expensive – and it’s certainly not as cheap as picking up a radiator key from you neighbourhood hardware store – but it’s well worth the investment.
Power flushing is recommended if you have:
- Cold spots on radiators.
- Frequent boiler breakdowns.
- Noisy pipes or boiler (kettling).
- Dirty or discoloured water when bleeding radiators.
- Poor circulation or slow-to-heat radiators.
The good news is that power flushing your central heating system is not something that necessarily needs to happen each year.
Your heating engineer will examine the entire system for corrosion or blockage during your annual Boiler Service and let you know whether you need power flushing. Check out our dedicated blog on power flushing to find out more.
4. Check the Boiler Pressure
Checking your boiler pressure on a regular basis is one of those summer central maintenance tips that frequently fly under the radar.
This really shouldn’t be the case.
Here’s why:
Checking your boiler pressure is important because it helps ensure your central heating system operates safely, efficiently, and reliably. If the pressure is too low or too high, your boiler may not heat your home properly and could even stop working altogether.
What should the pressure be?
Most modern combi and system boilers should have a pressure reading of between 1 and 1.5 bar when the system is cold. When the heating is on, it’s normal for the pressure to rise slightly, typically to around 2 bar.
If the pressure drops below 1 bar, you may need to repressurise the system using the filling loop.
If it rises above 2.5–3 bar, switch off the boiler and contact a qualified heating engineer, as this could indicate a serious fault.
And there you have it:
Four actionable central heating maintenance tips you can use this summer!
Get More Central Heating Maintenance Tips from Moorland Heating
By combining an annual boiler servicing with correct boiler pressure and regular heating system maintenance, among other things, you can maximise the efficiency, reliability, and lifespan of your central heating system while keeping your home comfortable throughout the year.
At Moorland Heating, we’re here to help you do exactly that. As trusted heating engineers, we are also proud to deliver expert Boiler Installations, Kitchen & Bathroom Plumbing, Central Heating Installation & Repairs, and much more! You can also rely on our emergency call-out service outside our regular opening hours.
To get started on your summer central heating maintenance tips, call Moorland Heating today on 01752 338810 or fill in our online Contact form.
