A broken boiler or burst pipe during the winter months is every householder's nightmare, for some replacing the aging or decrepit boiler will save you money immediately and probably more importantly you will see long-term benefits and be safe in the knowledge that you have peace of mind over the winter months. By scrutinizing your heating bills each year you will be able to ascertain just how effective your water heater has been and consider changing providers should there be a particular spike in your heating expenditure. Then of course there's the safety issue, whenever a fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene or charcoal is burned as long as there is proper ventilation then there is no threat but if it becomes trapped in a room with due to a vent being covered it can have potentially lethal consequences when carbon monoxide is released. Stains or soot around a fire or on top of the unit itself is a clear indication that its time to get a CORGI registered engineer in. If you turn on your gas fire and watch the flame if it is an orangey yellow colour its ok, but if it's bright yellow vacate the premises and contact your supplier.
Some people will choose to purchase breakdown cover for these eventualities but its worth bearing in mind that before you go ahead and purchase breakdown cover you should check your household insurance policy as some companies include emergency cover on home insurance policies for free. With older units it's imperative that the check should take place at once every 12 months. It would also be prudent to purchase a carbon monoxide detector as it is undetectable to the senses.
Top Tips to save on winter utility bills
?In winter time you can save on your energy bills by turning your thermostat down this can reduce your heating bill from anywhere from 2-4%, you can achieve such savings simply by setting your thermostat at a lower level during the daytime. ?By opening your curtains in the morning you allow your house to absorb some of the heat of the sun and closing them at night seals this in. ?By wrapping an insulation blanket around your old water heater and the pipes that lead to it you can conserve heat and reduce your carbon footprint. ?Reduce hot water usage by buying a water-saving showerhead. ?When not in use turn off all appliances at the socket. ?Substitute baths for showers and replace washers on leaky taps. ?Add attic insulation ?Finally the key to saving on heating bills is to have your heating equipment checked by a qualified CORGI engineer. Engineers will generally be more than willing to offer advise and alternatives to cut your bills down to size.
Which fittings need inspection? Check all of the following: Look at the hot line and cold line. They are on top of the water heater. The cold line is on the right and the hot line is on the left always. If you don't notice any rusting, then move on. Next, inspect the T&P valve. The T&P valve is located on top for some electric water heaters. All other T%P valves will be found on the side of the tank. It looks like a spout with a one inch long movable lever. A piece of plastic pipe may be connected to the spout, but not in all cases. Sometimes there is no pipe attached to the spout at all. Check the drain valve which is at the bottom of the water heater. It looks like a standard outdoor hose bibb. Also check the thermostat located behind a panel on the upper half of most electrical water heaters. In order to check these areas, simply wipe a cotton swab all around the areas. Look at the wiped swab for rust or moisture. If rust or moisture appear, wrap these areas with teflon tape or disassemble these parts and replace them. A plumber should be used for this maintenance. Check the lower element on an electrical water heater as well. It will be found behind a panel on the lower half of an electric water heater. If moisture appears here, the gaskets will need to be replaced. Call a plumber for this service as well.
Leaky Fittings
As already discussed, the problem areas for leaks are the drain valve, heating elements for electrical water heaters, and the hot and cold connections on top. The ball valves on hot and cold lines can leak around the nut used to rotate the lever. Remember the hot and cold lines are the two plumbing lines on top of the water heater. This leak can in time destroy the tank enough to warrant a new tank. If you notice water stains on and around the tank, do not forget that the ball valves on top may be leaking all over the water heater. If you've followed some energy conservation advice and installed an insulation blanket around your water heater, just be aware that leaky fittings will be hidden beneath this blanket. Rusting may occur under a blanket more quickly than without one. Do not insulate directly around fittings, especially the hot and cold lines and the T&P valve.
Both Carolyn & John Haynes are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Carolyn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Legal Matters, Personal Desktop and Family. Water Heating Ltd has over 30 years experience in products.Please feel free to republish this article providing this resource box remains intact with a. Carolyn's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
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