It is generally known that systems such as your domestic boiler require periodic service in order to keep them in good operating condition. There are several ways to ensure the maintenance is done on a fixed schedule, such as using the service interval time controls as a reminder mechanism
Recently the talk about replacing old and inefficient boilers has grabbed many headlines. New boilers were praised as more economical and much less polluting. However, there was very little attention given to the importance of keeping these boilers in good operating order through periodic maintenance.
There are good reasons for ensuring that your boiler and your central heating system are regularly serviced:
* Ensure that performance is kept stable and reliable even at peak demand levels. This way, the boiler is efficient and economical throughout the year (both at low and high load times).
* Ensure you abide by the law which requires the owner of the property to make sure the boiler and the heating system are in good operating order
Gas Regulation 36 (part of Gas Safety, Installation and Use) 1994 states:
*Owners of gas appliances must make sure that the appliances are kept in safe operating order that eliminates the risk of injury to people using the property. The owner has to make sure that the appliances are checked periodically every twelve months.
* The Landlord has to make sure that the gas fittings within the property are checked and kept in good and safe operating conditions in a way that prevents injuries to users of the property.
* Without predisposition to the above points, a landlord must make sure that all gas appliances (including the flues) are checked within twelve months from the point of installation and at periodic intervals of no more than twelve months apart (whether such check was done subject to these Regulations or not).
Evidence from the marketplace indicates that it is difficult to enforce these Regulations in the case of private households. It is estimated that there are around 25 million households in the UK and many of them are either unaware of their legal obligation or they are simply delaying the checks due to financial difficulties. There are talks of imposing penalties in cases of accidents that involve damage or injury due to neglect on the side of the home owner.
There are automatic solutions that offer a reminder mechanism that flags when it is time for a periodic check or service. Some manufacturers offer a flag up reminder, while other manufacturers actually turn off the system if the service date has passed without the system being serviced. In such case the system flashes up a phone number for the local engineer.
Automatic reminders typically let the system have a short period of operations beyond the specified service date before physically shutting it down. While the system is running within this grace period the tenant or the owner must arrange for an urgent service for the system.
Calls for servicing seem to grow substantially as we get closer to the winter, and more households restart their central heating system after the summer break. Using an automatic reminder system would spread the work load more evenly reducing scheduling difficulties and keep the costs down. - 15478
Recently the talk about replacing old and inefficient boilers has grabbed many headlines. New boilers were praised as more economical and much less polluting. However, there was very little attention given to the importance of keeping these boilers in good operating order through periodic maintenance.
There are good reasons for ensuring that your boiler and your central heating system are regularly serviced:
* Ensure that performance is kept stable and reliable even at peak demand levels. This way, the boiler is efficient and economical throughout the year (both at low and high load times).
* Ensure you abide by the law which requires the owner of the property to make sure the boiler and the heating system are in good operating order
Gas Regulation 36 (part of Gas Safety, Installation and Use) 1994 states:
*Owners of gas appliances must make sure that the appliances are kept in safe operating order that eliminates the risk of injury to people using the property. The owner has to make sure that the appliances are checked periodically every twelve months.
* The Landlord has to make sure that the gas fittings within the property are checked and kept in good and safe operating conditions in a way that prevents injuries to users of the property.
* Without predisposition to the above points, a landlord must make sure that all gas appliances (including the flues) are checked within twelve months from the point of installation and at periodic intervals of no more than twelve months apart (whether such check was done subject to these Regulations or not).
Evidence from the marketplace indicates that it is difficult to enforce these Regulations in the case of private households. It is estimated that there are around 25 million households in the UK and many of them are either unaware of their legal obligation or they are simply delaying the checks due to financial difficulties. There are talks of imposing penalties in cases of accidents that involve damage or injury due to neglect on the side of the home owner.
There are automatic solutions that offer a reminder mechanism that flags when it is time for a periodic check or service. Some manufacturers offer a flag up reminder, while other manufacturers actually turn off the system if the service date has passed without the system being serviced. In such case the system flashes up a phone number for the local engineer.
Automatic reminders typically let the system have a short period of operations beyond the specified service date before physically shutting it down. While the system is running within this grace period the tenant or the owner must arrange for an urgent service for the system.
Calls for servicing seem to grow substantially as we get closer to the winter, and more households restart their central heating system after the summer break. Using an automatic reminder system would spread the work load more evenly reducing scheduling difficulties and keep the costs down. - 15478
About the Author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, publishes content about plumber topics, domestic heating, Clapham boiler, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by consulting on efficient heating.
