Heating system maintenance guide

Regular maintenance of the heating system is absolutely crucial for its proper functioning. Yet most people still underestimate it. If you take good care of your heating, you can save a lot of money and worries.

​Maintenance of the heating system will ensure cost-effective and smooth service

What problems can neglected heating system cause you?

1. Increased operating costs: As neglected maintenance leads to clogged heating systems and poor distribution of heating fluid, expect increased heating energy costs.
2. Low heating performance: Despite higher energy consumption, a clogged or non-vented heating system does not have the required power, the radiators don't heat enough or unevenly and cause thermal discomfort, humidity, mold, etc.
3. More frequent defects of the heating and its components: Clogging, of course, also causes more frequent faults in the individual components of the heating system, especially the pumps are very prone to jamming due to dirt particles in the heating liquid.
4. Safety risk: Neglected maintenance of the gas boiler poses a high safety risk due to the possible leakage of deadly carbon monoxide. This gas is colorless and odorless, so it can only be detected by a detector. Danger to your health and property is also the risk of a heating system accident due to undetected defects.
5. Shorter heating system life: In an unmaintained heating system, corrosion spreads, which gradually leads to irreversible damage and the need for demanding and costly replacement of your entire heating system.
6. Noise: Last but not least, it should be mentioned that an unmaintained heating system can be noisy, which significantly reduces the overall comfort in your home. Noise also impairs sleep and concentration.

So during the summer months inspect and maintain your heating. Your heating system will be ready to run efficiently and cost-effective at the beginning of the heating season. Find out how.

Your heating can be cost-effective and efficient.

Radiator venting

Air enters the heating system via pumps and other components or via various connections. It is therefore a natural part of the water in the heater and cannot be completely removed. However, oxygen causes corrosion of the inner walls of the heating system. In addition, aerated heating inefficiently distributes heating fluid and is noisy. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the amount of air in the radiators to the maximum by venting.

It is necessary to bleed the heating system after its filling, ie at the beginning of the heating season. However, you can also bleeding the heating at any time during the heating season if you notice any of the problems:

• radiators heat insufficiently even at its maximum,
• radiator is not evenly warm.

In the case of modern heating systems, the radiators are bled simply by a bleeder valve. There are different procedures for deaeration. It is generally recommended to bleed the heater at the maximum temperature and water pressure in the heater with the circulation pump switched off. Start from the lowest radiators to the highest ones.

The heating can also be vented completely automatically using air separators, which are permanently installed in the system. You do not have to think about the deaeration itself at all or interfere in the process in any way.

Cleaning a magnetic heater filter

Nowadays, magnetic heater filters are already a common part of heating systems. If you don't have it yet, don't hesitate to get it as it is the most effective protection against damage caused by impurities. If you already have a magnetic filter, remembter to maintain it regularly.

These filters work on a simple principle – with the help of a magnet, they capture metal fragments, magnetite, rust, etc. from the heating liquid, which clog and damage the components of your heating system, especially a pump, and settle on the walls of the radiators, thereby reducing their heating power.

The particles caught on the magnet need to be removed from the filter about once a year - and right before the heating season is ideal. However, if you just installed a magnetic filter for the first time, clean it after a few days, as it will suddenly catch dirt accumulated in the heating system during its previous operation.

Always follow cleaning instructions in the filter manual. In any case, you can do it yourself in a few minutes - for modern magnetic filters, you just remove the magnet and let the loose particles flow out with the water from the filter tank into the prepared container.

Flamco magnetic air and dirt separator

Gas boiler service

Annual inspections of your gas boiler by a technician is necessary for safe operation of your heating system. Proper cleaning, adjustment and pressure control not only increases the efficiency of its operation, but above all reduces the risk of leakages of dangerous fumes, especially deadly poisonous carbon monoxide.

In electric boilers, the risks are not so serious, as there is no risk of gas escaping. Nevertheless, regular inspections are important – they can reveal hidden defects that lead to a reduction in boiler performance, increasing operating costs and shortening its lifespan.

Inspection after filling and continuous inspections of the heating system

After filling and launching your heating system, carefully check if there are any water leaks. Ideally, re-check after a few days, as a minor leak may only become apparent after a longer period of time. In case of detected leaks, contact a professional and never try to repair these defects yourself.

Adjusting the control elements and checking the operating pressure is also an important step. Ideally, you should check the pressure regularly throughout the heating season - pressure fluctuation signals a serious malfunction of the system, which can cause an accident.

According to the manufacturer's instructions, also regularly check other components of the heating system, such as pumps and expansion tanks. Your heating system will reward you with trouble-free and cheap operation and a long service life.