Ice risk to condensing boilers, warning

That is the message from maintenance firm Willmott Dixon as it aims to avoid a string of winter problems by urging Rotherham residents to take simple steps to protect their homes.

Last winter, low temperatures caused big problems and heartache for householders and business owners across the region and left some without hot water or heating when their condensing boiler systems froze.

Willmott Dixon's local branch manager, David Coldwell, said: “Condensing boilers are the most common type of new boiler.

“They are great in the way that they are ten to 20 per cent more efficient than older boiler models, but the bad news is that the system is more likely to freeze up in very cold temperatures.

“This could stop your central heating from working and cause the temperature to drop in your home, causing even more problems, like frozen water pipes which then thaw and burst.”

Homeowners are urged to keep their heating on a constant low temperature during frosty weather to help their boiler beat the big freeze and prevent boiler systems and water pipes from freezing.

If a pipe on a condensing boiler has frozen, you can thaw it out by placing a hot water bottle on the pipe, or pouring warm water on it, before resetting your thermostat.

Mr Coldwell added: “Boilers often break down at the start of winter because they haven’t been used much for a long time, and there couldn’t be a worse time to be living in a cold house with no hot water.

“It’s important to ask a gas engineer to carry out annual checks and maintenance of your boiler, or allow your landlord's gas engineer access to do this on your behalf.”

Latest Met Office weather forecast.