As temperatures drop across the UK, many households are preparing to switch on their central heating for the first time since summer. Before doing so, a home maintenance expert has shared five essential checks to ensure your system runs efficiently and safely.
Check Your Boiler Pressure
Georgina Bisby, who regularly posts DIY tips on TikTok, advises checking boiler pressure while the system is cold. "For many systems you're looking for between one to 1.5 bar, but check the instructions for your specific boiler," she said. If the pressure is too low, most boilers can be topped up using the filler loop—a pipe with a small valve that can be adjusted by hand. Some systems have a pressure gauge on the filler loop, while others display it on the boiler itself.
Bisby warns against repeatedly topping up without investigation: "If you keep having to top it up though, don't just keep doing it, get it checked because your system may be losing pressure elsewhere."
Bleed Radiators and Free Stuck Pins
The second check involves feeling each radiator. "If the radiator is warm at the bottom but cold at the top, it's often trapped air," she explained. Turn off the heating, let the radiator cool, then use a radiator key to bleed out the air until water starts to come out. Afterwards, recheck the boiler pressure.
If a single radiator fails to heat up while others work, the thermostatic valve pin may be stuck after months of inactivity. "If it's stuck down, gently work it free, don't yank it out," she advised, noting that removing the valve head and freeing the pin can often restore function.
Move Furniture and Test Alarms
Bisby also recommends pulling sofas away from radiators so heat can circulate, and leaving a gap between furniture and cold external walls to prevent condensation and mould. Finally, she urges households to test their carbon monoxide alarm: "Press the button and check that it actually sounds."
According to the Met Office, homes should be maintained at a temperature of at least 18 degrees, particularly for those with reduced mobility, heart or lung disease, or aged 65 and older. With daytime averages of 14 degrees forecast in London and Cardiff, 12 in Manchester, and 11 in Edinburgh and Belfast over the next week, the time to act is now.
