Central heating tips

Stay warm when the weather gets cold

You may not think about your central heating too often, but you’ll certainly notice if something goes wrong with it.

To help keep it in good shape, have the central heating system in your home checked and serviced regularly. Try to get your boiler serviced in the summer to ensure that it's working efficiently before the winter comes.

During the summer, put the heating on for 15 minutes once a month. This should help clear grit from the boiler pump and will give you a chance to check that the system is working properly.

Improve your energy efficiency

  • Insulate your loft to reduce heat loss from your home
  • Use radiator insulation foil behind your radiators to direct all of their heat into your rooms
  • If you’ve got a hot water cylinder in your airing cupboard, make sure it’s got a thick thermal jacket secured around it and its thermostat isn’t set higher than 60 degrees
  • Check if your radiators feel warmer at the bottom and cooler at the top when your central heating is on. If they are, bleed them to improve their efficiency

Common causes of problems

A control switch for a boiler

  • Is the power light lit up on the boiler? If not, has a circuit protection device tripped that you can reset?
  • If the boiler has a pilot light, is it lit? Follow the manufacturer’s instructions if you need to re-ignite it
  • Is there a problem with your gas supply? Ask a neighbour to see if they are having problems too
  • Is your meter in a cupboard where the on/off meter might have been knocked? Check to see if it’s in the right position
  • Has your central heating programmer been set correctly? Your heating won’t come on if the programmer isn’t telling it to
  • Is the room’s thermostat set correctly? If it’s too low then the heating won’t come on
  • Is the boiler pressure correct? If not, can you identify a leak in the system that can be isolated? Take care when investigating as any escaping water may be very hot. If in any doubt, leave this to a suitably qualified engineer

Stay safe from carbon monoxide

If you’ve got a gas boiler, it’s very important to get it checked and serviced regularly in order to minimise the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. You can also buy carbon monoxide alarms to alert you to danger.

Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. The main signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flu symptoms:

  • headaches
  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • abdominal pain
  • sore throat
  • dry cough

More severe poisoning can result in a fast and irregular heart rate, hyperventilation, confusion, drowsiness and difficulty breathing. Seizures and loss of consciousness may also occur.

Gas boiler and central heating protection, including an annual boiler service, is available with Home Emergency Response from the AA.

Interested in Home Emergency Response?

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Terms and conditions and post code restrictions apply to Home Emergency Response. Boiler restrictions also apply.

Home Emergency Response is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited, registered number 88716 (Gibraltar), and sold by Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited, registered number 2414212 England and Wales. Registered office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA.

Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), registration number 310562. You can check this on the FSA's register by visiting the FSA website www.fsa.gov.uk (link opens a new window) or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.