Your Essential Guide
You’re not imagining it: boilers really are prone to breaking down more during the winter months. This can be down to a wide range of reasons, from increased demand to frozen pipes. If you are unlucky enough to find yourself dealing with a broken-down boiler this winter, there are a few things you can do. From finding a specialist in emergency boiler repair Chelmsford property owners trust to staying safe while your heating is out, here’s your essential guide.
Stay calm
We know that it is much easier said than done, but the most important thing to do is not panic. Panic leads to you making rash decisions that you might regret later. So try to stay calm and assess the situation. How long has the boiler not been working for? Are there any strange noises or anything else that doesn’t seem normal? Making a note of all of this can be really helpful when you get in touch with a local expert to come and fix your boiler.
Find a great team
The next thing you should do is call in a professional to come and take a look at your boiler. A boiler should only ever be worked on by a Gas Safe engineer, so be sure that they meet that criteria when you get in touch. You’ll want to find a team who can respond to callouts 24/7 if you are dealing with an out-of-hours emergency, as they will be able to reach you and start working on your boiler in no time at all.
Don’t try to fix things yourself
While it might be tempting to take a look at your boiler and try and get to the bottom of the problem yourself, don’t! This could lead to you damaging the boiler further or causing yourself serious injury. Plus, any repairs that aren’t carried out by a Gas Safe engineer will likely void the terms of your boiler’s warranty or any insurance policies that you have taken out. So it pays to leave it to the professionals.
Staying safe
While you are waiting for your engineer to arrive, it’s important to stay safe. Temperatures can drop fast at this time of year, and the very young, old and those with health issues can be more vulnerable in the cold. Wrap up warm in extra clothing and gather up some blankets. If you have one, an electric blanket can provide you with enough heat. Electric heaters are a good option too, as is a good old-fashioned hot water bottle!
What to do next
By following the above advice, you can deal with a boiler emergency sensibly and make sure that you keep yourself and anyone else in your property safe. Once your boiler is back up and running, you can also start to plan for things like regular maintenance and servicing to make sure that you aren’t hit with the same issues next winter!
