Gas and Central Heating

Maintaining your gas and central heating system is important to keep your home safe and warm, especially in colder months. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you handle common tasks and prevent issues from arising.

 

 


 

A hand pressing a button on a domestic boiler

Vegetable steamer on a gas hob.

Smelling Gas?

If you smell gas:

  • Do: Open all windows and doors to ventilate your home.
  • Do: Turn off the gas supply at the emergency control valve near your gas meter.
  • Do: Call the National Gas Emergency number: 0800 111 999.
  • Don’t: Use electrical switches, light matches, or do anything that could create a spark.

Resetting Your Boiler

If your boiler stops working or shows an error code, it may just need a reset:

  • Check your user manual for fault codes and instructions.
  • After topping up the gas or fixing the issue, press the reset button on your boiler.
  • Ensure the boiler starts producing heat and hot water again. If it does, there’s no need for an engineer.
man fixing boiler
Gas engineer doing a service check on a boiler

Repressurising Your Boiler

Low boiler pressure is a common issue, and repressurising it is straightforward:

  • Locate the filling loop on your boiler (check your manual if needed).
  • Turn the lever or valve to top up the pressure until the gauge reads between 1 and 1.5 bar.
  • Once the correct pressure is reached, close the valve and the boiler should work correctly.

Bleeding Radiators

Trapped air in your radiators can reduce their efficiency. Bleeding them is a simple way to fix this:

  1. Make sure the heating is off and the system has cooled.
  2. Use a radiator key to slowly turn the bleed valve (usually at the top of the radiator) anti-clockwise.
  3. You’ll hear air escaping; once water begins to flow, close the valve by turning it clockwise.
  4. Check if your boiler pressure has dropped—if it has, you may need to repressurise it.

By following these steps, you’ll help keep your gas and heating system running smoothly, ensuring your home stays warm and safe throughout the year.

Man fixing a radiator with a spanner
A hand pressing a button on a domestic boiler

Using Your Thermostat

Ensure your thermostat is set to a temperature higher than the current room temperature to activate the heating. Many thermostats also have programmable settings to create a heating schedule that suits your needs.

For more detailed instructions, watch the Maintaining Your Gas and Central Heating video, which walks you through these tasks step by step.