Top tips for checking your heating before winter

Winter is on its way, so now is a great time to make sure your heating is ready for the colder weather.

Our Heating Compliance Manager, Dave Brown, has shared these simple tips to help keep your home warm and comfortable this winter.

1. Test your heating

Before it gets cold, make sure your heating is working properly.

• Check that your boiler is set to Heating and Hot Water. Many people switch it to Hot Water Only during summer and forget to change it back.
• Turn your heating on for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Make sure all your radiators get warm.
• Check that your home reaches the temperature you've set on your thermostat.

2. Check your thermostat

Your thermostat controls the temperature in your home.

• Make sure it is working and set to the temperature you want.
• If you have a programmable thermostat, check that the time and heating schedule are correct.
• Remember that the clocks go back in autumn, so you may need to update the time on your controls.
• If your thermostat uses batteries, check that they still have power. If you see a low battery symbol, replace the batteries. Before removing the old batteries, take note of how they are fitted so the new batteries can be installed in the same way.
• Most of our homes have a Neomitis thermostat that uses two AA batteries. Usually, changing the batteries is all you need to do.
• Sometimes, you may need to pair your thermostat with your boiler receiver. These instructions will help show you how to do that.

3. Check your radiators

Make sure the radiators you want to use are switched on.

• If a radiator has been turned down or off, open the valve by turning it anti-clockwise.
• If a radiator stays cold when the heating is on, let us know and we'll help.

4. Check your boiler pressure

Look at the pressure gauge on your boiler.

• The pressure should usually be between 1 and 1.5 bar when the boiler is cold.
• It's normal for the pressure to go up when the heating is on.
• If you're worried about the pressure reading, please contact us for advice.

5. Look out for warning signs

Keep an eye out for any problems, such as:

• Error messages on your boiler.
• Leaks around your boiler, pipes or radiators.
• Heating or hot water not working properly.

6. Report problems quickly

If you notice a problem with your heating or boiler, contact us as soon as possible.

Reporting issues early means we can arrange repairs sooner and help keep your home warm.

Annual boiler servicing and safety checks

We carry out yearly boiler services and gas safety checks to make sure your heating system is working safely and correctly.

Please make every effort to be available for your appointment. If the date doesn't work for you, let us know and we'll do our best to arrange another time.

Need to contact us?

If you're having problems with your heating or need support with any of the points above, please get in touch:

• Log the repair through your MyKarbon account
• Email info@karbonhomes.co.uk
• Call 0808 164 0111

We're here to help keep you warm and safe this winter.