dealing with a broken boiler at christmas

Dealing with a Broken Boiler this Christmas

If there’s one thing to complain about at Christmas, it’s the cold weather that us Brits endure come December. A picture perfect white Christmas is all well and good from inside your cosy, warm home, but what happens when your boiler goes bust? Aside from it being just another cost to pay for during the most expensive month of the year, there are only so many pairs of pyjamas, dressing gowns, blankets and hot water bottles you can wear  and cold showers you can take before seeing your breath in the air whilst eating breakfast becomes too much. Unfortunately, it seems that cold weather and boiler failures come hand in hand, along with burst pipes when temperatures plummet to below freezing. Heating and hot water are essential to all of us during the winter months, and getting something like a broken boiler fixed as soon as possible is at the top of everyone’s wish list. However, things don’t always operate as efficiently as they normally would during the build up to Christmas, and although energy companies such as British Gas and NPower have pretty good boiler cover packages available to purchase, there is no guarantee that your boiler will get fixed before the big day. If you are unfortunate enough to be in this position, you might want to read the following survival tips to ensure you can still enjoy Christmas.

According to a study conducted last year, the 1st December is the most common date of the calendar for boiler breakdowns, and other common dates following that fall on the 8th, 15th and 22nd of December. EDF Energy, who carried out the survey, concluded that over 7 million homes in Britain suffer a broken boiler between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day and on average it’s a whole working week until things are back to normal.

Be Prepared

If you are reading this, it’s Christmas and your boiler has already gone into meltdown, you might want to discard this part. However, as it’s still November, there is plenty of time to prepare for disaster, should it strike. Writing down a list of emergency contact numbers is a great way to make sure you are not calling numbers taken from obscure websites in desperation for some hot water in your home or accepting the help from any old plumber who will in fact only make the situation worse and the bill higher. If you have a list of reliable, emergency contacts you can make sure that you are fully stocked up and likely to receive reliable help, should something occur. There are websites of verified plumbers that you can visit, to make sure the ones that you are choosing from your area are approved. A professional plumber will be able to give you a quote before the job, and although prices might be increased on Christmas Day or around the Christmas Period, you still have a right to know how much you will be charged.

If you have a Major Water Leak

Major water leaks can destroy everything that they come into contact with and so it is important to stop the leak as soon as possible. To do this, you will have to turn off the water supply completely at the stop tap, which in most homes is located in the kitchen or if it is a boundary stop tap, next to the water meter. If you have an old home, you might want to consider alerting your neighbours as well, because sometimes operating the stop tap can affect them as well.

…or a Minor Leak

Whilst not as urgent, still a huge inconvenience and can sometimes develop into a bigger problem. Dealing with a minor water leak which is usually an internal issue, can be tricky. The leak can be stopped using isolation valves next to the relevant appliance. This means that you can deal with the issue without having to actually shut off the entire water supply, which is always a bonus. The leak should stop when turning the lever, but you may need to use a screwdriver for smaller valves.

Managing a Gas Leak

Although you can’t see it, a leak of natural gas is definitely the most dangerous problem to occur with a faulty boiler, and it is important that you deal with the problem quickly, even if you are left waiting for professional help. First of all, turn off the gas by using the emergency control valve located at the meter. Once the gas is off you need to take a number of safety precautions such as fully ventilating your house (no matter how cold). Open windows and doors and no naked flames until the area is completely cleared (this includes smoking). You will need to call the emergency services to report the leak, and wait until someone can come out to fix it ASAP.

Although broken boilers do need to be fixed as quickly as they possibly can be, panicking and potentially calling our a rogue trader can land you in a bigger mess than you were to begin with. Take our precautionary methods into account, and research for a certified plumber, who will solve your problem efficiently.

 

 

 

 

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