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Quick answer
As the clocks go back and the heating season properly begins, it is worth running through a short practical checklist: booking a service if you have not had one recently, checking and topping up system pressure if needed, updating your heating programmer for the new schedule the darker evenings bring, bleeding any radiators that were not heating fully at the end of last season, and testing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Doing this before the first genuinely cold snap, rather than waiting for a problem to force the issue, is the sensible order to do things in.
Key takeaways
- The clocks going back is a useful, memorable annual prompt to run through a short heating system checklist before the coldest weather arrives.
- If you have not had a boiler service in the last year, booking one ahead of heavy winter use is more sensible than waiting until a fault develops mid-winter.
- Checking system pressure and bleeding any radiators that were not heating fully at the end of the previous season are quick, worthwhile checks.
- Updating your heating programmer’s schedule for the new season, including timing changes brought by darker evenings, is worth doing alongside the clock change itself.
- Testing carbon monoxide and smoke detector batteries is a simple, important habit to attach to this same annual prompt.
The clocks going back each autumn is a genuinely useful, memorable trigger for a short seasonal heating checklist, getting your system properly ready before you are relying on it heavily through the colder months.
Book a service if you are due one
If it has been close to a year, or longer, since your last boiler service, this is a sensible moment to book one, ahead of the heaviest period of winter demand rather than waiting until the depths of winter when engineers are typically busiest and a fault would be most inconvenient. A routine service catches developing issues before they become a breakdown, and getting it done before you are relying on the boiler daily is simply more sensible timing.
Check system pressure
Take a moment to check your boiler’s pressure gauge sits within the normal range indicated on the appliance; if it has dropped low, most modern boilers have a straightforward filling loop procedure to top it back up, detailed in your boiler’s manual, though if you are ever unsure, an engineer can check and correct this as part of a service visit.
Bleed any radiators that were not fully heating
If you noticed any radiators not heating fully, particularly cold at the top while warm at the bottom, towards the end of last season, now is a sensible time to bleed them, releasing any trapped air before you are relying on full, even heating throughout the home. If bleeding does not resolve the issue, or you notice several radiators affected, this can point towards a wider system issue, such as reduced inhibitor protection or sludge build-up, worth mentioning at your service.
Update your heating programmer
Darker evenings arriving alongside the clock change often shift a household’s actual heating needs and schedule, for example wanting heating on slightly earlier in the evening as it gets dark sooner. This is a sensible moment to review and update your programmer’s schedule to match your household’s actual current pattern, rather than leaving a schedule set for lighter summer evenings running unchanged into the darker months.
Test your detectors
Finally, attach a simple safety habit to this same annual prompt: test your carbon monoxide detector and smoke detector, replacing batteries if needed. This is a small, quick task, but tying it to a memorable annual event like the clocks changing is a reliable way to make sure it actually happens each year rather than being forgotten.
Book with Gasmaster
Getting ready for the heating season and want your boiler properly checked first? Gasmaster Plumbing & Heating covers Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford for boiler servicing. Get in touch through our boiler service booking page.
Frequently asked questions
Why use the clocks going back as a reminder for boiler checks?
It is a memorable, fixed annual event that conveniently falls right around when heating demand starts increasing in earnest, making it a genuinely useful, easy-to-remember trigger for a seasonal checklist.
What if I find my boiler pressure has dropped when I check it?
Most modern boilers have a straightforward filling loop procedure detailed in the manual to top pressure back up; if you are unsure or the pressure keeps dropping repeatedly, have an engineer check for an underlying cause.
Should I bleed all my radiators every autumn as routine?
Only radiators showing signs of trapped air, such as being cold at the top, generally need bleeding; there is no need to bleed radiators that are already heating fully and evenly.
How urgently should I book a service if I have not had one in over a year?
Reasonably promptly, ideally before the coldest weather sets in and before engineers’ schedules are at their busiest through the depths of winter.
Is testing my carbon monoxide detector really necessary every year?
Yes, batteries and sensors do not last indefinitely, and an annual test alongside other seasonal checks is a simple, important habit for ongoing safety.
Sources
- Gas Safe Register (gassaferegister.co.uk)
- Energy Saving Trust (energysavingtrust.org.uk)
- Manufacturer published seasonal boiler maintenance guidance
Related services
Abdul runs Gasmaster Plumbing & Heating and has worked on boilers, heating and gas appliances across Stoke-on-Trent since 2005. He is Gas Safe registered (reg. 220932), and these articles come from his day to day work in homes and businesses across Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire.
