With colder temperatures seemingly here to stay, many of us are thinking about our boilers more. Checking your boiler and central heating system are functioning properly and efficiently is crucial, as we rely on them to keep us warm over the winter.
But how confident and comfortable are you checking the health of your boiler and central heating system? This was just one of the questions British Gas asked 1,000 boiler owners across Britain to discover the nation’s levels of knowledge, confidence and understanding of boiler-related issues. Of those surveyed, more than half of Scots (51.9%) don’t know how to check the health of their boiler.
The full survey explored everything from how many cold showers people would endure before calling a gas engineer for help to how confident they would be bleeding their radiators.
British Gas also offers expert advice on how to check your boiler’s health, as well as how to maintain a healthy boiler throughout the year, which you can find below.
Key Findings:
- More than half of Scots surveyed (52%) don’t know how to check the health of their boiler.
- 42% of Scots find boiler issues ‘stressful’ or ‘intimidating’.
- Almost 3 in 10 of Scots ‘never think about their boiler’
- 46% of Scots would endure at least one cold shower before calling in a boiler expert.
You can see the full results of the survey here:
https://www.britishgas.co.uk/heating/boiler-repair/feeling-the-cold.html
More than half of Scots unsure how to check the health of their boiler
It is obvious from the survey that there are some confidence and knowledge gaps across the country when it comes to boilers. More than half (52%) of survey respondents admitted they don’t know how to check the health of their boiler.
| Do you know how to check the health of your boiler? | Percentage of responses (Scotland) |
| No, I do not know how to check | 51.9% |
| Yes, I check once per year | 18.5% |
| Yes, I check it once per month | 22.2% |
| Yes, but I never check it | 7.4% |
On top of this, more than two in five (42%) find boiler issues ‘stressful’ or ‘intimidating’, while over 28% of the Scottish public answered that they never think about boiler issues. That’s in comparison to only 30% that feel confident solving problems.
| How do you feel about solving boiler-related issues | Percentage of responses (Scotland) |
| I find it stressful and intimidating | 42.0% |
| I never think about it | 28.4% |
| I feel confident | 29.6% |
How many cold showers would you endure before seeking emergency repair works?
To find out how long people are willing to ignore their malfunctioning boiler before calling for help, British Gas asked how many cold showers they would endure before seeking repair works.
Although the majority of Scots would not stand the thought of a single cold shower before picking up the phone to an engineer, there were some staggering findings to the contrary. 46% would endure at least one icy shower, with 1.2% answering they wouldn’t mind 10 or more before calling out for repairs.
| How many cold showers would you endure before seeking emergency repair works? | Percentage of responses (Scotland) |
| Wouldn’t endure a single cold shower | 54.3% |
| Would endure one or more cold showers | 45.6% |
| Would endure two or more cold showers | 14.7% |
| Would endure three or more cold showers. | 6.1% |
| Would endure ten or more cold showers | 1.2% |
Expert commentary on boiler health from Joanna Flowers, a service and repair engineer at British Gas:
How can I check the health of my boiler?
With over 50% of people not understanding how to check their boiler’s health, it can feel puzzling sometimes. If you’re one of those people who aren’t too sure, you can do simple things like turning the heating on and checking radiators to ensure the system is working properly – especially if it hasn’t been turned on recently.
Bleeding your radiators is another simple task you could carry out to ensure your home heating system is functioning as it should. If your radiators are cold at the top and hot at the bottom, this could be something to try. To do this, turn off your heating, let your radiators go cold and then bleed them with a bleed key and cloth.
Remember that if your boiler does stop working, you can book a one-off emergency repair with British Gas before 11 am and they’ll be there the same day*
*Based on 2024 performance data, 80% of customers contacting by 11am received the same day service.
How often should I check my boiler?
While you don’t have to be an expert to check if your boiler’s working properly, there are lots of simple things you can do. Turn the heating on and feel the radiators to make sure the system is working properly – especially if it hasn’t been used in a while.
And when it comes to servicing, once a year is the right amount. We recommend that your boiler is serviced once a year, but if you want a more in-depth assessment by a professional who will make sure it’s all in working order, book a boiler service when you need it.
Whether you choose to do this in the summer, winter or at any time of year, annual servicing can prevent any unwanted breakages or faults before they happen.
What should I do if my boiler is making noise?
With over 12,000 searches a month across the UK for queries relating to boiler sounds, this is certainly something people worry about. While it can be a little concerning, don’t panic. Boilers make sounds, even when they’re switched on and being used. If you’re hearing a specific sound – banging, vibrating, whistling or any other noise – this may be a clue to what is going on inside your boiler.
Vibrating sounds coming from your boiler? With over 2,740 searches a month, steady and continuous noises can be common and may indicate loose brackets that need tightening or trapped air. If uncertain where it’s coming from, get an engineer to scan the source and diagnose any faults.
Mechanical sounds like banging, knocking and clunking are also a common concern, with over 2,200 searches a month. This can signal a faulty part inside a boiler or even a problem with the heat exchanger. It’s best to address these issues promptly so that you can put your mind to rest.
Since your boiler pumps a lot of water through the pipes in your house, hearing water and liquid sounds coming from the unit can be normal.
If you’re hearing something out of the blue or extremely loud, then it may be time to double-check that everything’s working okay. It’s important to remember that boilers will have automatic switches and safety mechanisms that turn the boiler off before it is dangerous. If this happens, get in a professional engineer to safely get your boiler working again.
Always book a gas safe engineer if you are not sure what’s wrong.
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