Frequently asked questions

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a natural hydrocarbon fuel consisting of a combination of propane and butane. It is a liquid when under artificial pressure reverting to a gas at atmospheric pressure. This means it can be easily and conveniently stored as a liquid which is a big advantage over natural gas, which will turn to liquid at extremely low temperatures. What's more, LPG is 250 times denser as a liquid than as a gas mix so a lot of fuel can be stored in a relatively small space.

Every year around twenty people die from gas-related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The Health & Safety Executive strongly advises that gas appliances and/or flues are regularly checked at least once every twelve months. If your gas appliance has any black staining around or above it you should call a gas safe engineer immediately as these are some of the signs of carbon monoxide spillage and you could be in danger.

The most common reason for the pressure gauge reading zero is that there is a leak within the heating system. The most likely place for a leak to occur is around the radiators and valves. Pipe-work is often knocked by general use which could result in a disturbed seal on the radiator valve.

There should be a minimum of 0.5 bar charge in the heating system.

Solution: Service

It could be that your pressure relief valve is faulty - if you place a balloon or similar over the discharge pipe (outside the building) and after a few hours /days it fills with water then it is that part.

It could also be that the expansion vessel has failed - if water is coming out of the pressure valve on the vessel, it is faulty - this looks like a car tyre valve (schraeder) - there should be a maximum of 0.5 bar charge in the vessel. The remedy is to have the expiation vessel changed.

Solution: Change expiation vessel.

Ring the National Gas Emergency 0800 111 999.

If the problem is external, meaning before the gas meter, they will attend within two hours and advise you on what precautions to take prior to there arrival. If it is diagnosed as an internal fault you will need a gas safe registered installer to attend.

When a new boiler is fitted to an existing system it is a requirement of the boiler manufactures warranty that flushing takes place and is recorded on the Benchmark and a certificate issued. In addition to the above, flushing ensures your central system is free from debris that can cause valve failure and poor circulating pump speeds which leads to slow heating.

Solution: Power flush.

There are many thousands of ageing central heating systems with circulation and boiler noise problems caused by accumulations of sludge, corrosion deposits and scale, but traditional methods of flushing just don't get rid of all the debris, and problems often quickly return. Power Flushing is a chemically balanced procedure which is guaranteed to improve the efficiency of your heating system.

The use of chemical mobilising agents followed several days later by "repeat drain down" procedures is invariably very labour intensive, requires at least two visits, and is often not completely effective.

No matter how good the flushing agent used, the flow rate as system water trickles out through ordinary drain valves means that some debris settles back in the systems, with the result that problems return.

The alternative method, removing individual radiators, is equally time consuming, very messy, and has no effect on deposits in pipe work and elsewhere in the system. Some of the symptoms which indicate that a heating systems would benefit from a power flush are:

• Radiator water is dirty and discoloured.
• System is slow to warm up.
• Some radiators are partially or completely cold.
• Radiators need frequent bleeding.
• 'Kettling' noises from boiler.
• Repeated pump failures.

Solution: Power Flush

Gas appliances supplied by the landlord in tenanted accommodation are, by law, required to be tested and certified on an annual basis. The safety checks require a gas safe registered person to accurately record and list any findings on the Landlord/Homeowner Gas Safety Record (CP12).

Solution: Safety check

This is a common fault and the reason is usually the thermocouple. Over time the tip of the thermocouple burns out. There are other possible faults such as a blocked pilot injector, the over heat safety stat needs resetting, the flue or chimney may be restricted or blocked, if the pilot assembly is of a precision type you must have the appliance checked immediately as the combustion air supply could be depleted of oxygen.

Solution: Full service.