Overview

• British Gas cautioned that over 1.2 million households required engineer visits last winter, with many breakdowns hitting during the coldest spells.
• Ideal Heating advises checking boiler pressure before switching on: when cold it should read about 1 to 1.5 bar and typically rises by roughly 0.5 bar when running.
• A cold reading below 1 bar can signal a problem that makes systems work harder and use more energy, risking higher bills.
• If radiator tops feel cooler than the bottoms, bleed them to remove trapped air, a step that also applies to newly built homes.
• Households are urged to insulate pipes, seal draughts, and keep thermostats between 18°C and 21°C, with a 1°C reduction estimated to save about 10% or roughly £75 a year, to avoid backlogs as many switch heating on in mid-October or after several days below 9°C.