Tips, guides and news from the Heatifix team.
Energy bills have been a major source of anxiety for homeowners across the UK over the past few years. While wholesale prices have eased slightly, household bills remain significantly higher than they were before 2022. The good news? There are practical steps you can take right now to reduce what you're spending — without turning off the heating entirely.
An inefficient boiler can be burning significantly more gas than it should. A poorly maintained boiler works harder to produce the same amount of heat, costing you more every month. An annual service keeps it running at peak efficiency — and often pays for itself within weeks.
If your radiators are cold at the top but warm at the bottom, they likely have trapped air inside. This means your boiler is working overtime to heat a room that isn't getting warm. Bleeding radiators is simple, takes ten minutes, and can make a noticeable difference to both comfort and bills.
Older thermostats are imprecise. A smart thermostat lets you control your heating room by room and schedule it around your actual routine — not just a rough approximation of when you're home. Studies suggest smart thermostats save households an average of £180 per year.
Draught-proofing doors and windows, adding loft insulation, and fitting radiator reflector panels behind radiators on external walls are all low-cost improvements that reduce heat loss substantially.
Low boiler pressure means your system isn't circulating water efficiently. Check the pressure gauge on your boiler — it should sit between 1 and 1.5 bar when the heating is off. If it's lower, repressurise the system following your boiler's manual or call an engineer.
Small changes add up. If you're unsure where your boiler stands, a service is the best starting point — and our engineers can assess your whole system while they're there.
Your boiler rarely breaks down without warning. In most cases, there are tell-tale signs in the weeks or months beforehand — signs that, if caught early, can mean the difference between a routine service and an emergency callout in January.
Banging, clunking, whistling or kettling sounds are not normal. Kettling — a low rumbling that sounds like a kettle boiling — usually indicates limescale buildup on the heat exchanger, which reduces efficiency and can lead to component failure if left untreated.
If your pilot light is going out repeatedly or burning yellow instead of blue, it could indicate a faulty thermocouple or a ventilation problem. A yellow flame can also be a sign of carbon monoxide production — which is a safety issue requiring immediate attention.
If your home takes noticeably longer to reach temperature than it used to, your boiler may be struggling. This can be caused by sludge buildup in the system, a failing pump, or a heat exchanger that needs attention.
Any smell coming from your boiler — particularly something eggy or sulphurous — should be taken seriously. Gas leaks are rare but dangerous. If you smell gas, turn off your supply at the meter and call the National Gas Emergency line immediately.
If your energy bills have crept up but your usage hasn't changed, your boiler may be losing efficiency. A boiler that's working harder than it should is a boiler that's telling you it needs attention.
A service catches these issues early, keeps your warranty valid, and gives you peace of mind heading into the colder months. Book before the autumn rush and you'll avoid the inevitable wait.
It's one of the most debated questions in British households every winter: is it cheaper to leave the heating on a low constant temperature, or to turn it on and off as needed? The answer, as with most things, depends on your home — but the evidence leans in one direction.
The Energy Saving Trust and most heating engineers agree: turning your heating on only when you need it is almost always more energy efficient. The idea that keeping a constant low temperature is cheaper is largely a myth — unless your home is very poorly insulated.
The logic behind "constant low heat" is that heating a cold house requires more energy than maintaining a warm one. This is partially true, but the energy lost through walls, windows and roofs throughout the day while maintaining that temperature outweighs the burst of energy needed to reheat from cold.
If your home loses heat very quickly — old single-glazed windows, no loft insulation, solid walls — then the constant approach may work out similarly to on-demand heating. In these homes, the fabric of the building is the real problem, and insulation upgrades will save you far more than any thermostat strategy.
Use a programmable or smart thermostat to heat your home 30 minutes before you need it, and have it switch off 30 minutes before you leave or go to bed. This gives you warmth when you want it without wasting energy on an empty house.
If you're not sure how efficient your boiler and heating system are, a service will give you a clear picture — and our engineers can advise on smart controls that make this whole question irrelevant.
The short answer: once a year. The longer answer explains why — and why skipping it almost always costs more in the long run.
A boiler service isn't just a box-ticking exercise. It's the only way to catch small problems before they become expensive ones. During a service, a Gas Safe engineer will check and clean all key components, test safety devices, check for leaks and corrosion, and verify that the flue is operating safely. They'll also check that combustion is efficient — meaning your boiler is using fuel properly rather than burning through gas unnecessarily.
Most boiler manufacturers require annual servicing to keep the warranty valid. Skip a service and you may find that a component failure — which would otherwise be covered — is rejected on the grounds that the boiler wasn't maintained. Given that boiler warranties typically run for 5–10 years, this is a significant risk.
If you're a landlord, annual gas safety checks are a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. These must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A service and a gas safety check are different things — though many engineers will carry out both on the same visit.
Late summer or early autumn is the best time to book — before demand surges when the cold weather hits. An engineer will have more availability, and you'll have peace of mind that your boiler is in good shape before you actually need it.
Cold patches at the top of a radiator are almost always caused by trapped air in the system. It's one of the most common heating problems in the UK, and the good news is that it's straightforward to fix.
Over time, small amounts of air accumulate in your central heating system. This air rises to the highest point in each radiator, creating a pocket that displaces water and prevents the full surface area from heating up. The result: a radiator that's warm at the bottom but cold at the top, and a system that's working harder than it needs to.
You'll need a radiator bleed key — available from any DIY shop for less than £2. Turn the heating off and let the system cool slightly. Locate the bleed valve (usually a square-headed bolt at the top corner of the radiator), place a cloth underneath to catch drips, and turn the key anti-clockwise by about half a turn. You'll hear air hissing out. Once water starts to drip steadily, close the valve. Repeat for every radiator in the house.
Bleeding radiators releases water as well as air, which can drop your boiler pressure below the recommended 1–1.5 bar range. After bleeding, check the pressure gauge on your boiler and repressurise if needed.
Radiators that need frequent bleeding may indicate a problem with the system — either a failing pump, a micro-leak somewhere, or corrosion that's generating hydrogen gas. If you're bleeding more than once or twice a year, it's worth having an engineer take a look.
When a boiler breaks down, the question every homeowner faces is the same: do I repair it, or is it time for a new one? There's no universal answer — but there are a few clear frameworks that help you decide.
Boilers older than 10–12 years are approaching the end of their reliable working life. Modern condensing boilers are significantly more efficient than models from a decade ago — typically operating at 90%+ efficiency compared to 70–80% for older units. If your boiler is over 10 years old and requires a significant repair, replacement will almost always make more financial sense in the medium term.
A useful rule of thumb: if the repair costs more than 50% of the price of a new boiler, replace it. A new mid-range combi boiler installed typically costs £1,500–£2,500. If a repair quote is more than £750–£1,200, the maths usually favour replacement.
A boiler that has needed multiple repairs in recent years is telling you something. One-off failures happen — but a pattern of problems suggests the unit is deteriorating across the board. Fixing one component often just shifts the failure to the next weakest part.
If your boiler is less than 8 years old, has been regularly serviced, and the fault is a known single-component issue with a modest repair cost, repair is usually the right call. A well-maintained boiler under warranty should be repaired — that's what the warranty is for.
The best approach is to get an honest assessment from an engineer who doesn't have a financial interest in selling you a new boiler. Our callout engineers will give you a clear recommendation — and a quote for both options if the decision is close.
A leak in your home can range from a minor drip under the sink to a burst pipe causing serious water damage. How quickly you act in the first few minutes can make a significant difference to the outcome.
Locate your stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink or where the water supply enters the property — and turn it clockwise to isolate the water supply. If the leak is coming from a specific appliance, there may be an isolation valve on the supply pipe to that appliance that you can turn off instead.
If the leak is near your boiler or on any hot water pipe, switch off the boiler and let the system cool before inspecting further.
Place towels or containers to catch dripping water and protect flooring and furniture. Take photos and note when you discovered the leak — your insurer will want this information.
Leaks aren't always where the water appears. Water travels along pipes and joists before dripping through ceilings or pooling on floors. Look upstream from where you can see the water — joints, valves and flexi-hoses are common failure points.
Some leaks — a dripping tap, a loose compression fitting — are manageable DIY fixes. Most, however, are better handled by a professional, particularly if they involve soldered joints, buried pipework, or anything near the boiler. An emergency callout will cost more than a standard visit, but significantly less than the water damage from leaving it.
We offer same-day emergency plumbing across London. If you've got a leak that needs sorting, book online and we'll have someone with you as soon as possible.
If you rent out a property in the UK, gas safety compliance isn't optional — it's a legal obligation. Here's what you need to know.
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances, fittings and flues in their rental properties are checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This produces a Gas Safety Record — commonly called a CP12 — which must be provided to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in.
A gas safety check covers all gas appliances in the property — boiler, gas hob, gas fire — as well as the associated pipework and flues. The engineer will check for safe operation, adequate ventilation, and the integrity of all connections and fittings.
Failure to carry out annual checks is a criminal offence. Landlords can face unlimited fines and up to six months in prison. Beyond the legal risk, an unchecked appliance puts your tenants at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning — one of the most dangerous and invisible risks in any home.
These are two different things. A gas safety check verifies that appliances are safe to operate. A boiler service is a maintenance check that cleans components, identifies wear, and optimises efficiency. Most landlords choose to have both done at the same time — it's more convenient and often discounted when booked together.
We provide annual gas safety checks and boiler servicing for landlords across London. Our Landlord Care Plan includes both, plus priority booking and unlimited callouts — giving you everything in one place at a fixed monthly cost.
A new boiler is one of the larger household expenses most homeowners will face — typically £1,500 to £3,000 installed, depending on the property and the boiler chosen. The good news is that you don't have to pay for it all at once.
Many reputable heating companies — including Heatifix — offer 0% or low-interest finance options that let you spread the cost over 12, 24 or 36 months. A £2,000 boiler on a 24-month plan works out at around £83 per month — often less than the monthly saving on energy bills from switching from an old inefficient boiler to a modern one.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers grants of up to £7,500 toward heat pump installations for eligible homeowners in England and Wales. If you're considering a move away from gas, this is worth investigating. ECO4, the government's energy efficiency scheme, may also provide funding for low-income households or those on certain benefits.
If you have a good credit rating, a 0% purchase credit card can be an effective way to fund a boiler replacement — particularly if you can clear the balance within the interest-free period. This gives you flexibility and keeps the transaction protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Be cautious of finance deals with high APR after the introductory period, or contracts that tie you into expensive maintenance packages. Always read the full terms before signing, and make sure the monthly payment is genuinely affordable.
We offer transparent finance options with no hidden fees. If you'd like to know what's available for your property, get in touch and we'll walk you through the options.
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