Servicing is about safety, so a home cannot afford to neglect it. In the long term, regular servicing can also reduce the costs to a home through greater efficiency in heating being achieved alongside lower repair costs in the long term.
This article will explore those areas of maintenance that should not be forgotten about or added to the bottom of a “to do” pile. Areas of maintenance can include everything from heating services to rewiring your electrics. There are certain things that can be left and others that cannot. Leaving servicing to later is never a good idea.
So, let us consider those areas of servicing that should be addressed sooner rather than later and not be left to luck. To risk something going wrong rather than to have prevented it through regular servicing is to risk a family’s health and wellbeing.
With a focus on heating systems, we shall begin with HVAC systems otherwise known as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
HVAC Systems
For a HVAC System to do its job properly, which is to maintain air quality and a temperate climate, it needs to achieve a high level of efficiency. This is important for the health and temperament of family members, having an impact on their mood. A contented family member is a happy one. In terms of the cost of running a HVAC system with regards to it being a household expense, it is cost effective to service it regularly, so not to end up with larger repair bills when something does go wrong.
Energy efficiency is also something that is maintained by regular maintenance. Certain energy sources are running out on the planet and need a helping hand, so it is the responsibility of all of us to make best use of the depleting fossil fuels when used for our heating. We can all do our bit in that respect. Heating systems that run inefficiently burn fuel, directly or indirectly, at a faster rate than those that are regularly maintained, which is neither cost effective nor environmentally friendly.
Boiler
It is essential for a household to have its boiler serviced regularly and on an annual basis. This should be carried out by a registered gas qualified professional to ensure that there are no leaks or safety issues. Carbon monoxide (CO) is colourless and odourless and hard to detect, so it is important that there is no chance of it escaping. Often a blocked flue can be the cause in the case of CO. In the case of natural gas, it can be due to a faulty, worn, or badly maintained, boiler system.
For information on condensing boilers, click here.
Electrical Connections
Older properties should be checked to see if they need to be rewired. Ideally, this should be after 10 years with domestic properties, although you might also see various figures quoted in respect of domestic properties, such as them needing to be electrically rewired after 25 years or so. So, there is quite a variation with what is recommended by different sources.
Nevertheless, it is wise to have wiring regularly checked by a professional. The warning signs of a property needing to be rewired will include persistent burning smells, discolouration around electrical sockets, fuses repeatedly blowing, dimming, flickering lights, or if you have received any kind of shock from an appliance.
So, in summary there are many things to keep an eye on with regards to having your property and appliances serviced regularly. All have connections to heating, although electrical connections include those all around the house. HVAC systems should not be neglected and need servicing just as regularly as boilers do, for maximum efficiency to be maintained.