Winter-Proof Your Home: Essential Heating Hints & Tips

Winter Heating Tips: How to Save Energy and Prevent Boiler Breakdown in Wokingham

The cold weather has arrived in Wokingham and across Berkshire! Your central heating system is working harder than at any other time of the year. Following a few simple steps can dramatically reduce your energy bills and prevent the sudden, costly need for emergency boiler repair.

Here are the essential winter heating tips from your local Gas Safe Plumbers at Thermotec Plumbing & Heating.

Don't Skip the Annual Boiler Service

This is the single most important step you can take. A boiler that hasn't been serviced is an accident waiting to happen.

  • Prevent Breakdowns: Our Gas Safe engineer will identify and fix minor faults before they turn into a major boiler breakdown during freezing temperatures.

  • Maintain Efficiency: A clean, properly maintained boiler runs much more efficiently, ensuring you aren't wasting gas or electricity. This is crucial for keeping your Wokingham heating bills low.

  • Validate Warranty: Most boiler warranties are voided if you do not complete an annual boiler service.

Low System Pressure

The most common boiler faults on sealed systems is low water pressure faults. Usually a very simple fix of topping up the system pressure after bleeding radiators. If your’e unsure how to do this yourself ask us to show you whilst we do your annual boiler service.

Bleed Your Radiators for Maximum Heat

If your radiators are cold at the top and warm at the bottom, they have trapped air, which prevents efficient heat distribution.

  • The Fix: Use a radiator key to slowly release the air until water starts to emerge.

  • The Benefit: Ensures that your central heating system is heating your home evenly and efficiently, saving energy and providing maximum comfort.

Resetting your Boiler

Know how to reset your boiler and common boiler fault codes can be found in your boiler manual. Know how to do this yourself can save you having to pay for emergency call-outs for simple issues.

Insulate Your Vulnerable Pipes

Freezing pipes can lead to burst pipes, requiring urgent and costly emergency plumber intervention.

  • Target Areas: Pay special attention to any exposed pipework in unheated spaces like lofts, garages, and basements.

  • The Solution: Use affordable foam pipe insulation (lagging). This small investment can save you thousands in water damage and emergency plumbing fees.

Use Your Thermostat Wisely (Especially Smart Controls)

Smart usage is key to saving energy.

  • Avoid Fluctuations: Instead of turning the heating off completely when you leave, turn it down by 5°C. Letting the temperature drop too low requires the boiler to work much harder to get back up to temperature later.

  • Utilise Smart Thermostats: If you have Hive or Nest smart controls, use the remote access features to only heat your home just before you return, eliminating wasted heat.

  • Frost Protection: Ensure your boiler is running a brief cycle daily (even if the house feels warm) to prevent pipes from freezing, a common cause of emergency plumbing call-outs in the Berkshire winter.