Snow has been forecast for this week, and the weather will cause British Gas HomeCare engineers to visit more than 79,000 homes in this seven day period alone to help fix problems with heating or hot water – and if you live in certain towns you are most likely to be hit.
Boilers are 20 per cent more likely to breakdown in South Thames, South Bucks and Berkshire, and Central London, where homeowners need to be vigilant to check that their boiler is working.
British Gas has already seen almost a 40 per cent increase in engineer visits throughout November compared to October.
More than a third of households have not checked that their central heating is working, and four in ten have not had their boiler serviced in preparation for winter.
Top 10 regions for boiler and central heating breakdowns this week
South Thames
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Central London
North Thames
West London
Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire
Wiltshire & Dorset
Essex
Surrey & Sussex
Sussex & Weald
How to take care of your boiler
Keeping your boiler in a good condition is the key to making sure it continues to work – although it can’t completely protect you.
Central heating maintenance is key to saving money over the winter months. Whether you have a combi boiler or a gas version, making sure it is efficient as possible can save you around £340 this year.
Bleeding your radiators will cause less stress for your boiler, as excess air prevents the system from working efficiently.
Making sure you don’t cover your boiler is also important, so that vents will be clear and the system will not overheat.
Matthew Bateman, Managing Director for Field Operations at British Gas, said: “This is set to be the busiest week for boiler breakdowns across the country, according to our HomeCare data. That’s why our expert engineers will be on standby to help keep customers’ homes warm, and boilers and home appliances working throughout the winter.”
Turning the thermostat up during the cold months is also a no-no, according experts.
Over half of people turn their thermostat up when it’s cold outside, but you should not do this.