The central heating system as a mere water boiler

During the summer months, the only job of the average heating boiler or combi boiler may be to provide hot water. Faults that may cause a central heating boiler to fail to provide heating as the weather turns cold are hidden if the heating boiler is performing merely as a water heater.

The hardy soul who waits until the forecast of an overnight frost is going to be in for a serious shock when they find their central heating boiler became a mere water heater at some unknown time.

Shock to the system - yours, not the heating system!

Waking up on a freezing cold January morning and realising that there is no central heating whatsoever is also a fair shock. Coming home from a break away after a long drive, turning on the central heating boiler to generate hot water for a nice relaxing bath, then drawing a bath 45 minutes later and realising as you are about to get in that there is no hot water. That can be a really serious shock that might result in the air being turned blue - no matter whether there is a working central heating system or not.

In the case of boiler servicing or central heating system installation, planning and time is on your side. However, a sudden breakdown means looking for a central heating boiler repair - quickly. Mind you, it would be a good idea to get dressed after the aborted attempt to take a long relaxing soak in the bath...

‘Gas Safe registered’ replaced ‘Corgi registered’ in April 2009

Emergency or not, be sure to obtain a ‘Gas safe registered’ gas fitter. Before April 2009 you would have been looking for a Corgi registered gas fitter. Beware the gas boiler repair fitter who shows you his Corgi details and looks blank when asked about Gas Safe registration.

A combi boiler, a standalone water heater? I just want hot water for my bath!

Now you are faced with no hot water, no working central heating system, and no time. Are you going to seek a boiler repair, or a new boiler? Do you go for a replacement gas boiler, combi boiler, separate water boiler and heating boiler, or is a boiler repair feasible and preferable?

Would a boiler service have alerted you a imminent central heating boiler failure, or put it off completely? Maybe, it would have, but it is now and, at the very least, you want a working water heater - so a central heating boiler repair is what you are aiming and hoping for. Is gas safe? Certainly, when everything is working. It is when things play up that it can become unsafe.

The biggest problems can come when a gas boiler becomes faulty but it isn’t noticeable. A comprehensive service by a decent Gas Safe registered boiler repair specialist will bring those ‘quiet and possibly deadly’ faults to your attention.

Finding a good Safe Gas registered boiler/water boiler repair specialist

A good way to find a suitable boiler repair expert is to jump on the Internet. That way you find a local boiler service and discover exactly what is offered by way of a boiler repair. What you really want is hot water and you are hoping not to need a new central heating boiler, whether it is a combi boiler, replacement gas boiler, or something like a standalone instant hot water boiler.

The good boiler repair specialist not only knows how to do boiler repairs, they will know ‘Corgi registered’ was replaced by ‘Gas Safe registered’ back in April 2009. Avoid the gas fitter who doesn’t know. What else will they be unaware of? Play safe, be Gas Safe!

Who needs a central heating system if species change is an option?

Alternatively you could try and change species. Something cold-blooded might not be a good idea as such animals do actually need external heat to remain active - exactly as offered by the central heating system you have that isn’t working... Perhaps becoming a polar bear would help. You might no longer require hot water or any form of central heating system, but you might find yourself less popular with the neighbours and the family.

Also, think of the hot water you could land in if you end up biting the postie!