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February the peak month for boiler repairs
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
New analysis from Direct Line for Business has revealed that February is the main month for boiler repair claims. The firm state that claims rise by 163% compared to the typical monthly average.
Last Winter, the insurer saw a 27% rise in claims for broken boilers in comparison to 2015. It is feared that this Winter could see even more claims made.
Costly
It is thought that the average cost to repair a broken boiler is around £1,200. Landlords are being warned that they must do all they can in order to prevent damage occurring to their system in the below-freezing temperatures:
Keep heating set low: An exposure to extreme low temperatures can lead to your boiler’s condensate pipe freezing, which in turn will stop your boiler from working. Keeping heat on a low temperature will eliminate this issue.
Lag the pipes: Freezing temperatures can also make your pipes susceptible to cracking or bursting, which can lead to all sorts of problems for your property. Prevent this from happening by lagging pipes to cold air getting in. Pay special attention to pipes in lofts, eaves and cupboards.
February the peak month for boiler repairs
Bleed the radiators: Should you feel your property is not getting warm enough, there could be air being trapped inside your heating system. In order to release it, you will need to bleed your radiators. In order to do this, you need a key to put into the valve. If this doesn’t solve the issue, call professionals.
Christina Dimitrov, Business Manager at Direct Line for Business, noted: ‘Being caught out without heating in the winter can be particularly unpleasant, so landlords should make sure their properties have fully serviced boilers to help ensure their tenants don’t have heating issues. Landlords are legally responsible for securing a safety certificate for gas appliances each year and they also need to ensure the heating and hot water systems are maintained and functioning properly.’[1]
[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/landlords-beware-february-revealed-as-peak-month-for-boiler-repairs.html
