Gas boilers do not just fail in the winter. Extreme summer heat can also cause damage. That is why it is important to be able to know the dangers, spot the signs and to call out an engineer when required.
Summer is usually a quiet time for engineers. Most boiler repair work is undertaken in winter, when emergency call-outs are made by people who have suddenly lost their hot water and maybe their central heating as well, at the very time when they need it most.
However, although most boiler work in the summer involves us carrying out pre-booked appointments by wise householders, who choose this time of maximum availability to get their old and damaged boilers repaired or replaced, boilers can still fail in summer.
This is not because of the strain of running at full capacity in winter, but because it is possible for extremely hot summer weather to lead to problems.
How Hot Is This Summer Going To Be?
Never has there been a British summer when this has been more relevant than this one:
- The hottest May day ever was recorded in London (Kew) at 35.1 C on May 25th
- The Met Office has just recorded the hottest ever June Day, with 36 C being recorded at Wisley in Surrey, before three more places broke the old record
- The Met Office has projected that as climate change continues, summers will get even hotter, with temperatures of as much as 45 C occurring 30 years from now.
The heatwave can have an impact on your boiler in several different ways. The most obvious is that a prolonged spell of hot weather means your boiler can sit unused for weeks or even months on end. At this time, parts can seize up and faults go undetected.
How Does High Humidity Damage Boilers?
Another issue concerns humidity. Londoners have recently experienced what happens when humidity builds up in very hot weather, with fierce thunderstorms. However, this is not just about flashes, bangs and the damage that can be done by lightning strikes.
Humidity can also have an impact on your boiler, as it means extra moisture in the air can lead to more water in the wrong places in the boiler, leading to corrosion. This can diminish its performance and cause lasting damage.
These are not the only ways adverse weather can affect your boiler. High winds can damage performance, especially if the flue or ventilation system is affected, while floods can cause major damage as dirty water gets in or electrical components are damaged.
However, it might be anticipated that adverse weather such as winds, floods or winter could harm a boiler. News that hot summer weather could as well may come as a surprise.
How To Look After A Boiler In Summer
In the case of a boiler that is switched off for long periods of time, you should run it for a few minutes every few weeks.
This can help to prevent any parts seizing up and may alert you to any faults that it has, which is better than discovering them when you turn it on again when the autumn chills arrive.
In the case of a boiler exposed to humid conditions, regular inspections and maintenance are the best way to ensure it stays in good shape. Indeed, it makes sense to do this with your boiler every summer while engineers are readily available.
If that inspection finds a fault, the engineer can fix it. If the boiler has a lot of damage and is old, it may be better to replace it, with the benefit that this ensures you have a new boiler in great condition when the cold weather returns.
What Are the Signs Of A Faulty Boiler?
Whether in summer or winter, there are tell-tale signs if a boiler isn’t working properly:
- Banging, whistling or gurgling sounds
- Water leaks
- Strange smells
- A pilot light that keeps going out
- Higher energy bills that are not fully accounted for by seasonal weather factors or changes to the Energy Price Cap
By running your boiler for a few minutes every few weeks in summer, even if it stays very hot, you can spot signs such as these, although energy bills will remain low for now.
Boilers are one of those things you can easily forget about in summer, but this is not wise. Not only is it a very convenient time to have it inspected and serviced, but you still need to be vigilant.
By ensuring you keep checking your boiler and get us to inspect and service it, you can be sure to reach the end of summer with an appliance that will be in good shape for the challenges it will face over the autumn and winter.