12 things to put on your heating and plumbing maintenance checklist in 2024

Check your boiler flow temperature

Noticing a spike in energy bills due to the heating being on more often? Check your boiler’s flow temperature is set at 60°C or below. Use Nesta’s step by step guide on how to reduce flow temperature if you are unsure how to adjust it.

Deal with boiler error codes

If your boiler is flashing an error code at you, don’t ignore it. You do not want to be without heating during freezing temperatures. Some fault codes are easy fixes and may not even require professional attention. Check out our handy error code guides to find out what the fault is and help you decide on the best course of action:

• Worcester Bosch error codes
• Vaillant Boiler fault codes
• Ideal boiler fault codes

Leaking and burst pipes

If your pipes took a battering over the winter months from the freezing temperatures and icy conditions, there may be a few war wounds to heal. Turning off an unoccupied building’s heating in very cold weather, failing to replace or repair old or corroded pipes, or leaving little leaks until tomorrow, are all decisions that are likely to come back and taunt you further down the line.  Do not bury your head in the sand and hope they will disappear, keep on top of general wear and tear and any signs that something might be leaking and deal with them before they escalate into costly nuisances. You don’t want to be without an outside tap or shower during the summer when you need it most, do you?

Spring tidy ups are a good idea

Springtime is notorious for having a good old sort out and your plumbing should be no different. Take the opportunity to clean your guttering and down spouts now the weather is getting brighter and check and your sinks and supply hoses for leaks and assess any outside taps to check they are in full working order ready for all the plant and veg watering in the summer months!

Check and repair heating appliances

It may seem an odd time of year to worry about your heating system with summer just around the corner but, after a long winter that’s given your boiler, rads and gas fires a good workout, it is important to check that no faults have occurred or leaks developed that if left unresolved, will be problematic and costly come wintertime when you want to use them again.

Fix shower pressure and tap issues

With the weather heating up, it is time to deal with water pressure problems. Nobody has time for a slow running tap or a slow running washing machine nowadays. Ensure your water pressure is optimised and working as efficiently as possible and address those dripping taps. Every drop of water saved has influence on both the environment, and your water bills.

Water saving tips

As one of our most precious resources, conserving water has become more important than ever. Familiarise yourself with our water saving tips before the summer peaks.

Should you turn your boiler off completely when you are on your summer hols?

It’s a question we get asked time and time again. Maintracts Founder, Malcolm Osmore, answers the question directly, so you know just what to do before you jet off on that aeroplane.

Beat the boiler repair panic

Now’s the time to service your boiler, so it is in full working order when you want to turn it on in the next couple of months. Don’t wait until you need to use it like everyone else, because by that point, your heating engineer will have a backlog of people needing their boiler repaired and you may have to wait longer than usual for an appointment.

Bleed your radiators

Another excellent job to get out of the way is bleeding your radiators. Removing the air from your central heating system will ensure your heating is working to capacity and your rads are getting nice and hot all over. Follow our step-by-step DIY guide.

Safety first

When the bangs and smoke of firework night is out the way, ensure your home is safe from potential hazards too by checking that your carbon monoxide detector is working properly. If you haven’t got one yet, it is time to act. Carbon monoxide can be produced by any fuel-burning device including boilers, gas fires, central heating systems, water heaters, cookers and open fires and it is extremely poisonous to humans. A fully functioning alarm will detect any leaks, which will save the lives of you and your household.

Give your drains a well needed pamper

After all the Christmas turkey with all the trimmings, goose fat laden potatoes, gravy, meat juices, figgy pudding and custard, and general fattiness from all the festivities, your drains will thank you for a good clean. Read our tips on clearing drains blocked with fat to head into the new year with rejuvenated pipes!