After a long winter of hard work, your heating system deserves a little attention as the warmer months begin to arrive. Spring is the ideal time to carry out some straightforward maintenance checks – and with the heating season winding down, it is far easier to address any issues now than to discover them when you next need your system in autumn.
Here is what every homeowner should consider doing before summer is fully underway.
1. Book Your Annual Boiler Service
If you have not yet had your boiler serviced this year, spring is one of the best times to book it in. Heating engineers are typically less busy between April and August, meaning you are more likely to get a convenient appointment without a long wait. Any issues identified can also be sorted well before the winter rush begins.
An annual service keeps your boiler running efficiently, maintains your warranty, and checks for any safety concerns that may have developed over a season of heavy use. For landlords, it is also a legal requirement – making timely booking particularly important for rental properties.
2. Check Your Boiler Pressure
After a winter of regular use, it is worth checking that your boiler pressure is sitting within the correct range – typically between 1 and 1.5 bar when the system is cold. If it has dropped below 1 bar, your boiler may need repressurising using the filling loop. If pressure keeps dropping after being topped up, that can be a sign of a leak that requires professional attention.
3. Bleed Your Radiators
Over the course of winter, air can become trapped inside radiators, creating cold spots and reducing overall efficiency. Bleeding your radiators releases this trapped air, allowing hot water to circulate properly and your system to heat more effectively when it is next called upon.
It is a simple job that most homeowners can do themselves with a radiator key. Once done, check your boiler pressure again and top up if needed.
4. Adjust Your Thermostat and Heating Schedule
Many homeowners forget to update their thermostat settings and timer programmes as the seasons change, leaving the heating coming on when it simply is not needed. Reviewing your schedule and adjusting your target temperature to reflect warmer weather – or switching the heating off entirely if conditions allow – can make a noticeable difference to your energy bills over the spring and summer months.
If you have a smart thermostat, take a few minutes to check that its schedule still reflects your current household routine.
5. Arrange a Heat Pump Service
If you have an air source heat pump, spring is an excellent time to arrange a service. A qualified engineer will check refrigerant levels, inspect pipework and connections, clean filters, and ensure the unit is operating as efficiently as possible. Most manufacturers recommend annual servicing to keep your warranty valid and your system performing at its best – and with summer demand lower than winter, arranging it now means no unnecessary disruption during the colder months.
6. Clean Your Solar Panels
Winter leaves its mark on solar panels – dust, debris, bird droppings, and remnants of autumn leaves can all reduce the amount of light reaching your panels. A clean set of panels heading into spring and summer will generate more electricity during the months when output is naturally at its highest. Rainfall will keep panels reasonably clean in most cases, but an occasional manual clean or professional inspection can make a worthwhile difference to your system’s performance.
7. Inspect Pipework in Unheated Areas
Pipework running through lofts, garages, or outbuildings can be vulnerable to the temperature fluctuations of a cold winter. Spring is a sensible time to inspect these areas for any signs of damage, joint movement, or minor leaks that may have developed – before they go unnoticed and become a bigger problem later in the year.
Don’t Leave It Until Autumn
The most common mistake homeowners make is putting off heating maintenance until the cold weather returns – by which point engineers are in high demand and issues can leave you without heating at exactly the wrong moment. A few straightforward checks in spring keeps your system in good shape and gives you complete peace of mind all summer long.
At NCS Plumbing & Heating Specialists, we offer servicing for gas, oil, and LPG boilers as well as air source heat pumps across Hertfordshire and the South East.
Book your spring service today and head into summer with full confidence in your heating system: https://ncspm.co.uk/services/boiler-servicing/
